Reinier de Ridder dares Bo Nickal to wrestle him at UFC Des Moines — ‘See if I can get that neck’

Watch your step, kid! (Yo, you best protect ya neck.)

Jesse Holland is among the longest-tenured media professionals in the combat sports news space, covering MMA, professional wrestling and boxing on a full-time basis since early 2004.

Bo Nickal is an NCAA Division-1 National Champion out of Penn State sporting an undefeated MMA record of 7-0, with six of those victories coming by way of knockout or submission. In addition, the unranked “Contender Series” veteran claims there is no one in the middleweight division — from any promotion — who can beat him at wrestling.

That’s just fine with No. 13-ranked Reinier de Ridder.

“I’m happy with the fight,” De Ridder told MMA Junkie Radio. “It’s a good one. It’s not what I asked for. I asked for a Top 5 guy, but I think he’s a Top 5 name, right? He’s a very popular guy here in the States, and yeah, I’m happy with the matchup. See if we can make him grapple a bit, see if we can make him wrestle a bit. I think whatever happens, I might steal the spotlight in this one.”

De Ridder and Nickal are scheduled to face off as part of the upcoming UFC Des Moines event on May 3 in Iowa. “The Dutch Knight,” who is already 2-0 inside the Octagon with a pair of chokes, is a savvy submission specialist with 13 taps registered in 19 wins. No question Nickal will need to protect his neck if he decides to shoot.

“I feel my wrestling is pretty decent, as well,” De Ridder (19-2) continued. “I really want to make him wrestle this time. Last fight he was just sticking and moving, throwing that wild overhand of his, and trying to make sure he didn’t wrestle at all. But let’s make it a wrestling match this time, see if we can get him to shoot a couple of times, see if I can get his neck.”

Bye-bye Bo?