UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal is no longer shocked to see his pre-fight betting lines reaching four figures on the minus side.
Nickal will return for his second assignment of this year at Saturday's UFC 309 pay-per-view. The Jon Jones-headlined event goes down from inside the prestigious surroundings of New York City's Madison Square Garden.
Having started life on MMA's biggest stage with three wins to extend his perfect professional record to 6-0, the three-time NCAA Division I national champion and three-time Big Ten Conference champion out of Pennsylvania State University is set for a step up in competition.
On this weekend's main card, the 28-year-old Colorado native will share the cage with a man formerly ranked at both middleweight and light heavyweight in Craig. Despite his credentials and notable wins, not many are giving "Bearjew" a chance of victory.
That includes the oddsmakers, most of whom set Nickal's opening line close to or above -1000. Currently, the American has climbed to -1200 on DraftKings.
During an appearance on Monday's episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Nickal was asked whether he's shocked to be so heavily favored over a name who boasts wins over the likes of Magomed Ankalaev and Jamahal Hill.
No, the odds don't really surprise me. I actually figured they would be even crazier," Nickal said. "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.
Nickal will hope to prove that he's not being overestimated and Craig underestimated come fight night in "The Big Apple" this weekend by dispatching the Scottish veteran in emphatic fashion.
Should he accomplish that feat, the credentialed wrestler would move closer to earning a number next to his name at 185 pounds and being placed in matchups against the elite of the division.
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