The Bo Nickal next fight news should arrive in the next few months. Until then, we offer up three opponent options for the Penn State Wrestling legend and recap his latest victory at UFC 309.
Also Read: Penn State Wrestling schedule 2024-25 – Get a look at the upcoming Penn State duals
Who will Bo Nickal next fight be against?
In November, Nickal received a main card slot at UFC 309 and scored a workman-like win, this time over middleweight veteran Paul Craig. As the super prospect looks to continue his climb up the 185-pound ladder, fights against veterans and fellow prospects like Michel Pereira, Abus Magomedov, or Joe Pyfer are likely next.
- Demolidor: Pereira vs. Nickal would be a classic clash of styles. The American is an elite wrestler and the Brazilian is a wild and unpredictable striker. Both offer huge threats and seeing which one wins out makes sense for both next.
- From Russia With Experience: Abus Magomedov is a rock-solid middleweight veteran who has even had a main-event opportunity in the UFC. It gives him some name value without being too serious a test. It’s why he feels like a perfect matchup for Nickal’s next fight.
- Bodybagz: Pyfer is another talented prospect on the rise. He has more experience, is big and strong, and is a heavy hitter. He offers intriguing tests in a battle of rising prospects.
Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig recap
“Bear Jew” was the toughest test yet for Nickal due to his elite grappling. Due to that fact, the American fought very cautiously and played away from his strengths en route to a boring decision win in November.
What Happened:Â Despite hopes that we might get to see a wild battle on the ground, Nickal did not use his wrestling against Craig. While it may have been strategically smart to avoid his foe’s crafty BJJ, the fight ended up being a forgettable kickboxing bout between two fighters not known for their striking.
The Fallout:Â While it wasn’t the highlight reel victory he hoped for, a win is still a win and the highly touted prospect remained undefeated (7-0) after UFC 309.
What’s Next? After delivering a boring fight in his most recent appearance, the UFC is likely to give Bo Nickal another veteran fighter outside the top 15 instead of booking him against a ranked opponent next.
What makes Bo Nickal so popular?
Bo Nickal is one of the most hyped prospects of the decade because of his impressive accolades during his college wrestling career at Penn State. He also has a brash and very confident personality. That matched with his uncanny wrestling credentials is a good starting point for a fighter with legitimate superstar potential and that is why so many UFC fans are watching his career closely.
- Bo Nickal record: 7-0
- Bo Nickal weight class: Middleweight (186-pound limit)
- Bo Nickal stats: 2 knockouts, 4 submissions
- At an early age, Nickal proved to be a wrestling savant when he landed a spot on his local varsity high school wrestling team while he was an eighth grader.
- He would eventually move to Texas for his high school career and was a three-time state champion.
- Nickal continued his wrestling career at Penn State and went on to make history by winning three NCAA national championships
- He also won the 2019 Under-23 World Championship and the US Open National Championship. Plus he also reached the finals of the US Olympic trials in 2020.
- Nickal began his MMA career with a 33-second KO win in 2022.
- Over his first five fights, he has never gone past the first round.
Bo Nickal net worth
Money is often one of the greatest measuring sticks for a fighter’s success. As of 2024, Bo Nickal’s net worth is estimated to be as much as $3 million.
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