Written by Bo Nickal is oozing confidence ahead of UFC 309.
Nickal (6-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) takes on Paul Craig (17-8-1 MMA, 9-8-1 UFC) on Saturday’s main card (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Hulu/FX, ESPN+) at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Craig holds wins over the likes of former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill and top contender Magomed Ankalaev during his light heavyweight tenure. But despite his experience, Nickal is a whopping -1100 favorite, according to DraftKings, with Craig a +700 underdog.
Nickal went so far as to say he expected the odds to be even wider.
“No, the odds don’t really surprise me,” Nickal said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I actually figured they would be even crazier. It’s almost like a mania. Every time I come to fight, I think the people know who is going to win, so it’s all good.”
That being said, Nickal does acknowledge that, on paper, Craig is his toughest test to date.
“Of course a lot of people know Paul Craig, and he’s had some really big wins in his career,” Nickal said. “He’s a dangerous opponent. He’s finished guys who have been champion and fought for the belt, so this is definitely the most dangerous fight I’ve had up to this point and a big step up.
“But I feel prepared and ready to just continue to build my reputation. …That’s what I want to do. I want to have a step up in competition every single time I fight. I felt like this was a step up and an appropriate one, and it just gives me a chance to continue to build my reputation, test my skills, and improve as a fighter overall.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.