Penn State great Bo Nickal set to make UFC debut Saturday night
Penn State’s wrestling program is in Ann Arbor this weekend for the Big Ten tournament, but a former Nittany Lion great, Bo Nickal, will also be in the spotlight Saturday when he makes his debut in the UFC. Nickal, who will fight as a middleweight, is set to face Jamie Pickett at roughly 10 p.m. eastern time to open up the main card for UFC 285. Sportsbooks have him as a massive -1600 favorite, making him one of the largest favorites ever for a debut fight in the UFC’s history. Pickett is currently around a +900 underdog.
Since announcing that he planned to pursue a career in mixed martial arts, Nickal has become one of the sport’s most hyped prospects. It’s not just that he’s undefeated at 3-0, but more so how dominant Nickal has been, winning all three fights within about a minute or less. His last two fights were during UFC president Dana White’s “Contender Series” in August and September.
Throughout his short MMA career so far, Nickal’s professionalism has also impressed fans and media alike. He credited his time at Penn State for that approach when asked about it earlier this week.
“I think coming from my background, being a collegiate athlete at Penn State, the winningest sports program in the NCAA the last 10 years, not only in wrestling but every sport, I think that there’s just kind of a different precedence set, and a different mindset that I have.
Link: Penn State picks up commitment No. 4 from CB Kenny Woseley
“It doesn’t have anything to do with me personally. It just has to do with the people I’m around, the program and learning from a lot of great leaders and great individuals and people that have achieved super awesome things.”
Top 10
- 1Breaking
DJ Lagway
Florida QB to return vs. LSU
- 2
Dylan Raiola injury
Nebraska QB will play vs. USC
- 3
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 4New
SEC changes course
Alcohol sales at SEC Championship Game
- 5
Bryce Underwood
Michigan prepared to offer No. 1 recruit $10.5M over 4 years
A three-time Division I National Champion and the 2019 Hodge Trophy winner, Nickal is the most decorated wrestler to join the UFC since Ben Askren in 2018. He also still calls State College home. In the summer of 2021, he partnered with American Top Team, one of the sport’s elite training bases, to open a gym in Centre County.
Nickal was asked this week about the impact American Top Team has had on his career so far.
“It helps a ton. Iron sharpens iron. Everybody knows that,” Nickal said. “It was the same mindset for me, coming from high school to college, going to Penn State, where there’s the best wrestlers in the world there. I get to train with the best guys, day in, day out. Now, moving into MMA, it’s the same thing. Training at American Top Team, with the best middleweights in the world, having the best coaches in the world, it’s super exciting, something I really appreciate and am grateful for.”
It’s rare to see a fighter make the main pay-per-view card for the first fight of his career in the UFC. Not only that, but Nickal is opening one of the most anticipated cards of the year, as tonight’s event will feature two title fights, including the return of one of the greatest ever in Jon Jones.
“I’m just really excited,” Nickal said. “Obviously, it’s a big opportunity for me, being on this card, being on the main card. Very cool. But yeah, I’m just excited overall. Excited and grateful.”
