Bo Nickal believes he could exploit ‘holes’ in Khamzat Chimaev’s game if the pair ever came to blows in the UFC.Nickal, 29, suffered the first defeat of his MMA career in May and is currently preparing for a UFC return to set up a fight at the promotion’s White House event next year, which has been promised by US President Donald Trump.Chimaev put on a perfect performance to outpoint du Plessis at UFC 319 and become the new champion at 185lbsThe Mega AgencyNickal believes he would be a much tougher test for Chimaev, who he says has ‘holes’ in his gameGettyChimaev, meanwhile, was crowned the UFC middleweight champion last month after dominating Dricus du Plessis over five rounds in their Chicago main event title fight.The undefeated Russian-Emirati fighter racked up over 21 minutes of ground control time during the 25-minute contest, smashing the record for a 185lbs fight in the UFC.In doing so, Chimaev added his name to the list of numerous wrestling-based fighters who have gone on to become UFC champions.This has filled three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion Nickal with the utmost confidence ahead of his return to the Octagon, as he now believes he has it in him to beat Chimaev and claim gold himself.Nickal is eyeing up a comeback at UFC 322 in Madison Square Garden on November 15.Bo Nickal using Chimaev title win as ‘blueprint’ for UFC success“It gives me confidence in a lot of different ways,” Nickal told talkSPORT.com, speaking on Chimaev’s win over du Plessis.“I saw what he was able to do in a championship title fight, and it’s a great blueprint for myself to copy.“He was able to impose his wrestling and grappling to dominate for 25 straight minutes and was never endangered the whole fight. “It was a very flawless, easy victory.”After working his way up to the elite standard in wrestling, Nickal made his UFC debut in March 2023, winning his first three bouts in Dana White‘s promotion inside the distance.Nickal said he would prove a difficult matchup for UFC middleweight champion ChimaevGettyThe American is hoping to get back to wining ways after suffering his first MMA defeat to de Ridder in MayGettyThe Colorado native then proved his worth by claiming a unanimous decision victory over veteran Paul Craig at UFC 309.However, Nickal was brought straight back to the drawing board when he was stopped four months ago by Reinier de Ridder, who is now the No. 4-ranked UFC middleweight.De Ridder is now set to face fellow top-ranked middleweight Anthony Hernandez at UFC Vancouver next month.The winner of the fight will most likely get a title shot against Chimaev, who Nickal says has identifiable weaknesses, although several MMA fans expect him to be a dominant champion.Nickal: Chimaev is great, but wouldn’t be able to take me down“I see holes in [Chimaev’s] game still,” Nickal said, speaking on his experience watching ‘Borz’ against wrestling-based fighters.“And that’s not to discredit him because he’s great, but I think we all have holes in our game. So that’s just what I would think going in, what I would try to exploit.Chimaev has been able to outwrestle his opponent in all nine of his victories in the UFC, but Nickal said he ‘doubts’ the Russian would be able to take him downGETTY“I really, really doubt he would be able to take me down. I know that my cardio would hold up. I know for a fact he’s not taking me down quickly…“It would be interesting. Everybody saw what happened last fight when you put him against another striking-based guy, it’s probably going to be the same thing, right?“Every striking-based guy he’s fought: DDP, Robert Whittaker, Li Jingliang. All these guys, he takes them down, throws them down, and smashes them. “But the grappling-based guys are a different story, and I would be by far the best grappling-based guy he’s fought if we do match up.”Nickal concluded by asserting that Chimaev is someone he had always wanted to fight, but doesn’t believe the champion has the motivation to ‘clear out a division’ and fight the up-and-comers.He said that if he had defeated de Ridder he would’ve been just one fight away from earning his first UFC title shot, and believes a meeting with Chimaev is still there should he get back to winning ways.Although the winner of de Ridder vs Hernandez in October could find themselves facing Chimaev next, France’s Nassourdine Imavov has also put himself in contention to fight for the title after defeating Caio Borralho at UFC Paris.