Bo Nickal vs. Jamie Pickett is scheduled for three rounds in the middleweight division, and is a featured attraction on the UFC 285 undercard from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Nickal is one of the most illustrious prospects in recent memory, and now is his time to shine at Pickett’s expense.
UFC betting odds have Nickal as an astronomical favorite at -1,500. Pickett isn’t getting much love from oddsmakers as a +900 underdog.
Here are our picks and predictions for Nickal vs. Pickett at UFC 285 in Las Vegas.
Bo Nickal vs Jamie Pickett fight odds
Bo Nickal vs Jamie Pickett method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Bo Nickal | Jamie Pickett |
|---|---|---|
| To win by KO/TKO | +200 | +2000 |
| To win by Points | +700 | +2600 |
| To win by Submission | -155 | +3300 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook on March 2, 2023.
Bo Nickal vs Jamie Pickett picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Bo Nickal vs Jamie Pickett betting preview
Bo Nickal is fixing to be the next big thing, potentially being marketed as the premier American wrestler in the UFC. After a respectable college wrestling career, Nickal looked like a grappling machine in a pair of wins on Dana White’s Contender Series, not even taking a single punch in the process. He’s up against tested veteran Pickett, who is essentially there to be fed to him.
Nickal needed two wins in the Contender Series to convince the UFC he is ready to compete. The three-time national champion has been training with American Top Team and their decorated group of fighters, and has a lot of hype behind him. There is plenty of potential in Nickal, who just needs to prove he can get it done on the big stage.
He might not have that hard of a time considering his opponent. Nickal is a takedown machine, landing an astonishing 23.68 takedowns per 15 minutes at 100% accuracy, and landing 3.68 significant strikes per minute. Once he gets you on the mat, he’s hunting for submissions, as he averages 23.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Jamie Pickett is coming off a loss and is a huge underdog here. While he doesn’t have a standout ability, he has the experience and will likely give Nickal some moments of resistance. The best chance he’ll have is trying to attack Nickal’s gas tank, but needs to be aware of his below-average defense before taking any chances.
“The Night Wolf” needs to avoid losing his third fight in a row. He lands 3.25 significant strikes per minute at 50% accuracy, and scores 1.39 takedowns per 15 minutes at 36% accuracy. Pickett’s fights last 9 minutes and 36 seconds on average.
Nickal losing to Pickett would be one of the biggest upsets in MMA history. With Pickett potentially fighting for his MMA career, he needs to act accordingly. Considering how the promotion is positioning Nickal here, there does seem to be an inevitable conclusion for this particular match.
Bo Nickal vs Jamie Pickett tale of the tape
| Bo Nickal | Jamie Pickett | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Age | 34 |
| 6-foot-1 | Height | 6-foot-1 |
| 185 lbs | Weight | 185 lbs |
| 75 inches | Reach | 80 inches |
| 3-0 (1 KO) | Record | 13-8 (8 KO) |
Bo Nickal vs Jamie Pickett UFC prediction and best bet
Fight prediction: Nickal ML
Nickal is getting the highlight spot on the card, and it couldn’t be any more obvious. He’s an insurmountable favorite against an opponent who is ill-equipped to upset him. Sure, Pickett should land a shot or two on him, but this is an example of precise matchmaking from the UFC.
It’s not as if he needs it. Nickal looks like a star both in the octagon and on the media circuit. His first step into developing into the type of pro that will carry the torch for the rest of the decade is a big win on a hyped card. There isn’t much to suggest he’ll suffer a shock defeat here.
At -1,500 though, we’ll have to find value elsewhere. Nickal gets the win here.
Prediction: Nickal ML (-1,500 at DraftKings)
Fight best bet: Nickal by submission in Round 1
Nickal’s wrestling prowess and Pickett’s susceptibility to submissions give us an idea of how this will go. The UFC seems pretty high on Nickal, and they want him to look as strong as possible out of the gates. Two of Pickett’s three submission losses came inside the first round, and we’re comfortable thinking a third one is on deck.
We’re going with Nickal’s main stage debut going off with a bang and a first-round submission win at -120.
Pick: Nickal by submission in Round 1 (-120 at DraftKings)
