The Bo Nickal next fight news should arrive in the next few months. Until then, we offer up three opponent options for his UFC return and recap the first loss of his mixed martial arts career.
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Who will Bo Nickal next fight be against?
Nickal was the top prospect in MMA heading into his UFC Des Moines return. Unfortunately for him, former ONE two-division champion Reinier de Ridder showed he is not yet ready for the top 15. However, he is likely to face an opponent just outside the rankings in his next bout. That is why Shara Magomedov, Chris Curtis, or Michał Oleksiejczuk will probably welcome the American back to the Octagon later this year.
- Bullet: The Russian is another elite prospect coming off the first loss of their career. A future star eliminator match between the two for the UFC to decide who they should really invest in long-term makes sense.
- Action Man: The company loves to book rising stars against aged names that fans are familiar with. Curtis is on the edge of a UFC release after losing four of his last seven. Booking the striker against Nickal would be a good test for the wrestler.
- Hussar: Oleksiejczuk saved his UFC career with a knockout win in April after losing four of his last five. He is a rock-solid veteran who offers threats. But he is still a very winnable return fight for the super prospect.
Bo Nickal vs. Reinier de Ridder preview
Nickal has a ton of potential as an MMA fighter. But his loss to de Ridder in May was a humbling experience he needed and will likely make him a better fighter in the long run.
What happened? Nickal tried to use his athleticism and wrestling to control the Dutch star. However, the former ONE Champion countered with solid striking, and when he was taken down, he was a problem to keep down for the American. When they were clinched up, the veteran also smartly used knees to wear away at the young fighter.
The fallout: Eventually, the knees sapped the life out of Nickal, and de Ridder started landing more and more strikes. It all led to a nasty knee to the body that folded Bo Nickal up and handed him his first defeat in Round 2 by TKO.
What’s next? Nickal will surely be humbled by the experience, and hopefully, it intensifies his fire to get better. Despite the setback, he remains one of the top prospects to watch in the UFC.
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: 7-1
- 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.
Related: Does Bo Nickal land in our latest UFC middleweight rankings?