‘How?’ Daniel Cormier Reacts to Bo Nickal Landing Top 5 UFC Opponent

Bo Nickal's meteoric rise up the UFC's middleweight division has once again caught people by surprise, as even Daniel Cormier couldn't help but express his incredulity at the latest development involving the prospect. 

A recent clip shared by MMA On Point on X captured Cormier reacting with an astonished "How?" after he found out that Nickal had landed a top-five opponent. The reaction highlighted just how rapidly the three-time NCAA Division I national champ is being propelled into the upper tier of the UFC's 185-pound division at breakneck speed. 

Bo Nickal's Joe Pyfer Matchup Leaves Daniel Cormier Surprised

Bo Nickal faces the next test of his UFC journey as the promotion puts him against a dangerous prospect, Joe Pyfer, who is known for his dangerous power and finishing ability. The rising middleweight star has come up fast in the division, and although he has relatively limited MMA experience, the UFC has already put him against a ranked contender. 

You can see even DC was wondering how Bo Nickal got a top 5 opponent 😅 "How?" https://t.co/RSxN45ruD1

— MMA On Point (@mmaonpoint) October 4, 2026

The booking appears to have caught former two-division champion Daniel Cormier off guard. Stunned by the news, Cormier simply asked, "How?" His brief response was enough to capture the surprise surrounding the news of Nickal receiving such a high-profile opponent at this stage of his UFC journey.

Nickal himself had predicted his route to title contention could perhaps be accelerated. 

"I win one or two more fights, and I'm fighting a ranked guy, and then I'm fighting a top 5, and then I'm fighting for the belt," he said in 2024 to MMA Fighting.

Bo Nickal Back on the Fast Track

Nickal regained his winning streak after a statement performance against Kyle Daukaus at UFC Freedom 250 in June. The decorated wrestler defeated Daukaus with a strike in the first round and improved his professional record to 9-1.

The victory was particularly significant as Nickal had previously suffered his first professional loss in the battle against Reinier de Ridder in May 2025. Nickal bounced back from the loss by finishing Rodolfo Vieira at UFC 322 and later scored a dramatic knockout against Daukaus. 

The UFC fighter has had an incredible journey in his short tenure in the promotion. Before battling de Ridder, he had only four UFC bouts, and the contender was a ranked fighter for the first time in his career.

With another elite opponent now potentially awaiting, Nickal might have a massive opportunity to prove whether or not he is up to the hype.