History of Bo Nickal in Timeline
Bo Dean Nickal is an American professional mixed martial artist and wrestler currently competing in the UFC's Middleweight division. He has a decorated background in freestyle wrestling, winning the 2019 U23 World Championship and US Open National Championship. He was also a finalist at the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials. Collegiately, Nickal wrestled for Pennsylvania State University where he achieved three NCAA Division I National Championships and three Big Ten Conference championships. He now transitions his wrestling expertise to the world of professional mixed martial arts.
January 14, 1996: Bo Nickal's Birth
Bo Dean Nickal was born on January 14, 1996.
2013: U17 World Championships Placement
Bo Nickal placed fifth at the 2013 U17 World Championships in freestyle wrestling.
2013: Loss at Cadet World Championships
In 2013, Nickal lost to Batyrbek Tsakulov at the Cadet World Championships.
2016: NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship Finalist
Bo Nickal was a finalist in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship in 2016.
2016: US Last Chance World Trials Qualifier and U20 US World Team Attempt
In 2016, Bo Nickal placed fourth at the US Last Chance World Trials Qualifier in freestyle wrestling and attempted to make the 2016 U20 US World Team but was stopped by Zahid Valencia.
2017: Rematch with Gabe Dean
In 2017, Bo Nickal had a rematch against two-time NCAA Division I National Champion Gabe Dean.
2018: Opponent Batyrbek Tsakulov becomes Russian National champion
Batyrbek Tsakulov, whom Nickal faced at the U23 World Championships, became the 2018 Russian National champion
November 10, 2019: Signing with First Round Management
On November 10, 2019, Bo Nickal signed an MMA management deal with First Round Management, signaling his transition into mixed martial arts.
December 7, 2019: First Submission Grappling Match
Bo Nickal competed in his first submission grappling match against Gordon Ryan on December 7, 2019 at Third Coast Grappling 3, where he was submitted with a triangle choke.
2019: Dan Hodge Trophy and Big Ten Athlete of the Year
Bo Nickal received the Dan Hodge Trophy, awarded to the nation's most outstanding collegiate wrestler, and was named the Big Ten Athlete of the Year in 2019. He was also a two-time Schalles Award winner as the nation's best pinner.
2019: Qualified for 2020 Olympic Team Trials
In 2019, Bo Nickal qualified for the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials.
2019: NCAA Championship, Dan Hodge Trophy, and Big Ten Wrestler of the Year
In 2019, Bo Nickal won the Big Ten Conference Championship and his third NCAA title. He also won the Dan Hodge Trophy and Schalles Award.
2019: U23 World Championship and US Open National Championship
In 2019, Bo Nickal won the U23 World Championship and the US Open National Championship in freestyle wrestling.
2019: 2019 World Championships Trials
Bo Nickal wrestled J'den Cox in two matches for a spot in the 2019 World Championships but lost both matches.
October 23, 2020: American Top Team Facility Construction Begins
Construction of a new American Top Team facility in Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania began on October 23, 2020.
December 12, 2020: Marriage to Maddie Holmberg
Bo Nickal married Maddie Holmberg on December 12, 2020.
2020: Olympic Trials and Olympics Postponed
The 2020 US Olympic Team Trials and Summer Olympics were postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
2020: NLWC I and NLWC III
Bo Nickal wrestled Alex Dieringer at NLWC I and won by criteria in 2020. He was scheduled to wrestle Nate Jackson at NLWC III but was removed from the card.
2020: Competition at 97 Kilograms
In 2020, Bo Nickal moved up to 97 kilograms and faced tough competition, including a loss to Mohammad Hossein Mohammadian and forfeiting a match against Kyle Snyder.
2020: US Olympic Team Trials
In 2020, Bo Nickal competed at the rescheduled US Olympic Team Trials, where he made it to the best-of-three finals but lost both matches to David Taylor, thus failing to qualify for the Olympics.
2020: US Olympic Team Trials Finalist
Bo Nickal was a finalist at the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials.
2020: 2020 US Olympic Trials
Bo Nickal participated in the 2020 US Olympic Trials for wrestling.
July 2, 2021: American Top Team Facility Opens
The American Top Team facility in Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania opened on July 2, 2021.
September 24, 2021: Amateur MMA Debut
Bo Nickal made his amateur mixed martial arts debut against David Conley on September 24, 2021, winning via arm-triangle choke submission in the first round.
November 5, 2021: Second Amateur MMA Fight
Bo Nickal scored a one-punch knockout victory over Billy Goode in his second amateur MMA fight on November 5, 2021.
2021: Decision to Compete at 86 Kilograms
Bo Nickal announced on September 21, 2021 that he would compete at 86 kilograms in the rescheduled US Olympic Team Trials.
June 3, 2022: Professional MMA Debut
Bo Nickal made his professional MMA debut against John Noland on June 3, 2022, winning by knockout in under a minute in the first round.
July 3, 2022: Team Grappling Tournament
Bo Nickal participated in a team grappling tournament at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 2 on July 3, 2022, representing iKon FC.
August 9, 2022: Second Professional MMA Fight
Bo Nickal's second professional MMA fight took place on August 9, 2022, against Zachary Borrego. Nickal won via rear-naked choke submission in the first round. Despite the victory, he was not awarded a UFC contract at this time.
September 27, 2022: Third Professional MMA Fight & UFC Contract
On September 27, 2022, Bo Nickal secured a UFC contract after submitting Donovan Beard via triangle choke in under a minute during his third professional MMA fight.
December 10, 2022: UFC Debut Postponed
Bo Nickal's scheduled UFC debut against Jamie Pickett was postponed on December 10, 2022, due to an injury.
March 4, 2023: UFC Debut and Performance of the Night
Bo Nickal made his UFC debut against Jamie Pickett on March 4, 2023, winning by arm-triangle choke in the first round and earning a Performance of the Night award. The fight was later subject to an appeal by Pickett's manager.
July 8, 2023: Second UFC Fight
Bo Nickal won his second UFC fight against Val Woodburn on July 8, 2023, via TKO in the first round after Tresean Gore withdrew from the fight just days before.