Rising UFC star Bo Nickal says he almost got arrested while training in Florida

Former Penn State wrestling superstar and rising UFC star Bo Nickal almost got arrested in Florida during his latest training camp.

Nickal is 4-0 in his MMA career and won his UFC debut back in March over Jamie Pickett via an arm triangle. His debut was on the main card of UFC 285, the return of Jon Jones, so it’s no secret that he’s a much-anticipated prospect.

So nearly getting arrested was an interesting look, as Nickal detailed on his latest Vlog.

“Sorry about that officer, didn’t see you,” Nickal said to the officer who pulled him over for not maintaining his lane. “I was trying to get over to turn right right here. I put my blinker on as soon as I turned … Very sorry about that.”

The officer even said to Nickal “enjoy training.” Nickal was in the car with his teammates, including former Penn State heavyweight national champion Anthony Cassar, a mixed martial artist himself.

Nickal’s next fight is scheduled for UFC 290 on July 8 against Tresean Gore. The former Penn State three-time national champion made no secret about his goals in UFC.

He had instant championship aspirations. Nickal previously called out middleweight champions Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira for their lack of grappling skills.

At that time, Pereira TKO’d Adesanya to claim the belt. Adesanya would get it back in April.

“That’s a relatively, I would say – I’m not going to say ‘easy’ fight, because he’s dangerous,” Nickal said of Pereira in February. “But as far styles go, that’s a great matchup for me. I’ve watched their fight a couple times, and the grappling (is where I’d win). The striking exchanges are super impressive – that goes without saying. They’re absolutely elite strikers. But when they get ahold of each other, it’s just almost, like, funny.

“Like, I’m laughing at how they’re moving and what they’re doing and stuff. And maybe they feel that way about me when I’m hitting pads and hitting the bag and stuff. But I just feel like, if I grabbed ahold of either of those guys, it wouldn’t go well for them. And I think everybody knows that, so that’s not something that’s a shocking statement or that’s pretty outlandish, in my opinion.”

Pereira is set to move up to light heavyweight while Nickal begins his climb up the middleweight division.

Nickal attempted to make the USA Olympic Wrestling Team in 2021, but fell short of a team spot to fellow former Penn State national champion David Taylor, who went on to win a gold medal last summer. Nickal fully turned his attention to MMA, opening up an American Top Team gym near Penn State’s campus, training regularly with UFC superstar Jorge Masvidal.

In his four seasons at Penn State, Nickal compiled a 120-3 record, won three NCAA titles (two at 184 pounds and one at 197 pounds), was a four-time All-American (national finalist in 2016 at 174 pounds) and finished his career on a 67-match winning streak.