Despite having just five professional fights in his career, Bo Nickal knocked out Val Woodburn in a spectacular 38-second knockout this past weekend at UFC 290. Bo Nickal, the three-time NCAA champion wrestler is currently hearing all kinds of fantasy matchmaking. He is 5-0 in MMA following an excellent collegiate wrestling career.
Nickal was slated to fight Tresean Gore at UFC 290, but Gore got injured. It’s unclear whether the UFC will reschedule the bout between Nickal and Gore or whether the company will take a different approach for both fighters.
In a recent life update about Bo Nickal, the middleweight contender posed with former US president Donald Trump for a picture posted to Twitter. Fans around the globe found it shocking to see Bo Nickal beside Trump, as fans tweeted, “What a shame“, and some even called him a “Republican.”
What a shame.
— Kwattbud (@Kwattbud1) July 15, 2023
🤣 I knew it was coming, MMA Twitter has found out Bo is a Republican🤣 https://t.co/77Tr5EFAv4
— Amos (@TylerJayAmos) July 15, 2023
Do all fighters follow this creature?? Goddamn every time I start to like someone this shit happens 🙄 https://t.co/ea3AQkBfhI
— Sarah 😁🥶 (@DeLuainatic) July 16, 2023
Nickal made his debut as a pro in June 2022, yet he’s already established a perfect 5-0 record with two wins in the UFC and two wins on the Contender Series. All of his victories came in the first round.
Bo Nickal hints at a potential layoff till 2024
As one of the most talked-about fighters on the UFC roster, Bo Nickal will surely have plenty of choices. A future clash with Khamzat Chimaev, on the other hand, may be at the top of the wish list.
Following his victory, the 27-year-old revealed the birth of his first child with wife Maddie Holmberg and plans to take time off for hunting expeditions. In theory, Nickal might return for one or two more fights before the end of 2023. But it turns out that’s the last thing on his mind when it comes to his professional future.
“There’s a chance [I don’t fight again this year],” Nickal told on The MMA Hour. “I could easily fight two more times. I could fight next week if I wanted, but for me, everything that I’m training for and preparing for is my 10th title defense down the road” stated Nickal. (h/t MMA Fighting)
While that type of time off could jeopardize Nickal’s hopes to enter the middleweight ranks by next year. But he’s also happy to point out the amount of activity he’s maintained over the last year.
“Like I announced, my wife is pregnant, and I want to make sure I’m there for her,” Nickal explained. Bo also stated he has hunting trips planned for September with trips to New Mexico, Alaska, and Colorado.
Nickal has long-term objectives that he is determined to achieve. But it’s also the reason he’s keeping his eye on the larger picture. He is sure that he has plenty of time to grow and improve in the UFC, which is why he isn’t targeting top-15 ranked opponents just yet.