Opponent Rips "Disrespectful" Bo Nickal: "This Is My Sport"

"I'm going to be champion of the world"

Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Tresean Gore sent a strong message to Bo Nickal ahead of their scheduled bout at UFC 290 on July 8. 

Gore had respect for Nickal's skills and accomplishments, but assured reporters that Nickal is "disrespectful" and "he's just going to have to take this L."

READ MORE: Bo Nickal Targeted by UFC 288 Winner: "We'll See Who's Wrestling is Better"

Gore, a semifinalist from season 29 of "The Ultimate Fighter", appeared in an April 10 interview with MiddleEasy, where he discussed Nickal as his next opponent:

"He's just another person that I'm going to go through .... I see a guy that I'm going to beat. He's had a really great wrestling career and I respect him for that, and I respect him for everything he's done in wrestling. But [MMA] is my sport; He's just going to have to take this L .... I'm going to be champion of the world."

Gore also predicted his fight and explained why he believes Nickal is disrespecting the "pioneers" of MMA:

"I feel like [I'm going to finish Nickal]. I don't know, I'm just going in there to win .... I'm not looking past him like he's looking past me. He says because of his wrestling credentials nobody can last five minutes with him, and 'Oh I'm going to fight Jon Jones one day' --- [Nickal] says things that are disrespectful to the pioneers of the sport. He thinks he's just going to come in here and s*** all over everybody."

READ MORE: UFC: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida: Start Time, Who's Fighting & Who to Watch

"I'm No Cheater": Bo Nickal Rejects UFC Debut Controversy

Nickal's UFC debut victory was marred with controversy after the All-American fighter appeared to knee Jamie Pickett in the groin before securing a takedown and finishing the fight.

Nickal told reporters from MMA Fighting at the UFC post-fight presser that he wasn't a cheater, denying the foul altogether:

"I don't [feel like I hit him low]. I hit him in the leg, in the thigh; I had him in a bad position on the wall. He wanted the ref to stop it, which if I would have actually hit him low I would feel bad, because I don't want to win that way.

"I'm not a cheater. I'm not somebody that tries to take shortcuts. If I did hit him low, I would have just relaxed, probably, or let the ref stop it."

Stick with MMA Knockout for more daily coverage of the UFC and MMA.

Follow MMA Knockout on Twitter and Facebook.