UFC middleweight Bo Nickal is set to return to his wrestling roots while awaiting his next bout in the Octagon.
Nickal recently suffered the first loss of his professional career via a stunning knockout by Reinier de Ridder at UFC Des Moines. Before this, the highly-touted prospect had been dominant, securing impressive wins against opponents like Val Woodburn and Cody Brundage.
He intends to fight in the UFC again later this year, likely in October or November, against an opponent yet to be named. The loss to De Ridder significantly hindered his progress towards the middleweight Top 15 rankings, but a couple more victories could quickly bring him back into contention.
To stay active and prepare, Nickal will leverage his elite wrestling skills by competing in that sport on August 30th.
Wrestling Comeback Set as Nickal Awaits UFC Fight
He announced on The Ariel Helwani Show that he has signed a multi-fight deal with the new promotion, Real American Freestyle (RAF), and will debut on August 30th. Nickal explained his decision, citing his desire to compete more frequently than the typical two UFC fights per year allows, especially at age 29. He noted that wrestling preparation is less demanding than MMA fight camps, making it feasible to compete alongside his MMA career.
RAF is spearheaded by WWE icon Hulk Hogan, with its first event scheduled for August 30th in Cleveland, Ohio.
Before transitioning to MMA in 2022, Nickal was a highly acclaimed freestyle wrestler, regarded as one of the best in NCAA Division I history, having won three national championships for Penn State.
Bo Nickal Addresses Critics Following First Career Loss
Following the loss, Nickal has responded to critics like fellow middleweight Joe Pyfer. He stated he plans to “keep receipts” regarding those who doubted him. Former UFC champion Luke Rockhold was particularly harsh, calling Nickal “pathetic” and “not a real fighter.”
Prior to his defeat by De Ridder, Nickal had a perfect professional MMA record, including securing two wins on Dana White`s Contender Series and winning his UFC debut at UFC 285 against Jamie Pickett via first-round submission.
Jack Thornley