1. Bo Dean Nickal was born on January 14,1996 and is an American professional mixed martial artist, former freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler who currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Bo Nickal was born in Rifle, Colorado, but moved to Wyoming at a young age, where he started wrestling around five or six years old.
Bo Nickal made the varsity high school team while in eighth grade and placed second at the New Mexico state tournament that same season.
Bo Nickal placed second at the Texas state tournament his freshman year, and then won every state tournament he competed in from his sophomore-year onward, becoming a three-time Texas state champion.
At the Big Ten Conference Championships, Bo Nickal claimed three bonus point-victories, including a fall over Martin and a major over Zac Brunson in the finale.
Bo Nickal entered the NCAA's as the top-seed, defeating his first three opponents to make the semifinals, where he avenged his regular season loss to Nate Jackson on points, advancing to the finals.
Bo Nickal then attempted to make the 2016 U20 US World Team, but was stopped by Zahid Valencia.
At the NCAA's, Bo Nickal got a technical fall in the first round and three straight falls to make his second finals, notably pinning Dudley and Sammy Brooks.
Bo Nickal was named 2019 Co-Big Ten wrestler of the Year, Penn State Male Athlete of the Year, and Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year.
Once his final run in collegiate wrestling was over, Bo Nickal immediately turned his focus solely to freestyle.
Bo Nickal walked through his competition, stopping five opponents and earning the championship.
Bo Nickal wrestled in two straight matches against returning World Champion J'den Cox for the spot to represent the United States at the 2019 World Championships.
At the U23 World Championships, Bo Nickal defeated three opponents including Shamil Zubairov, the returning champion, to get to the finals, where he faced 2018 Russian National champion Batyrbek Tsakulov.
Bo Nickal was scheduled to compete at the event on April it was postponed for 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic along with the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Bo Nickal tied it up after defending the attacks of his opponent, earning a point and therefore the criteria as the last one to do so.
Bo Nickal was able to earn the victory via criteria after neither of them were able to score more points.
Bo Nickal was later scheduled to wrestle 2020 US National runner-up Nate Jackson on November 24, at the NLWC III, but was removed from the card a day before the event.
In early April, Bo Nickal competed at the rescheduled US Olympic Team Trials as the sixth seed, in an attempt to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
On November 10,2019, it was announced that Bo Nickal had signed an MMA management deal with First Round Management, expecting to make the transition to the sport.
Bo Nickal made his professional MMA debut in the middleweight division against John Noland on June 3,2022, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, Virginia as part of Jorge Masvidal's iKon FC event.
Bo Nickal won the fight via knockout less than a minute into the first round.
Bo Nickal won the fight via rear-naked choke submission early in the first round.
Bo Nickal was not awarded a contract due to his inexperience, with UFC president Dana White instead opting to arrange another fight for Bo Nickal on the Contender Series.
Bo Nickal faced Donovan Beard at Dana White's Contender Series 56 on September 27,2022.
Bo Nickal submitted Beard in 52 seconds via triangle choke, not absorbing a significant strike.
Bo Nickal was scheduled to make his UFC debut against Jamie Pickett on December 10,2022, at UFC 282.
Bo Nickal won the fight via an arm-triangle choke submission in the first round.
Bo Nickal was scheduled to face Tresean Gore on July 8,2023, at UFC 290.
Bo Nickal finished the bout 38 seconds into the first round via TKO stoppage.
Bo Nickal faced Cody Brundage on April 13,2024, at UFC 300.
Bo Nickal won the fight by rear-naked choke submission in the second round.
Bo Nickal faced Paul Craig on November 16,2024 at UFC 309.
Bo Nickal faced former ONE Middleweight and ONE Light Heavyweight World Champion Reinier de Ridder on May 3,2025 at UFC on ESPN 67.
Bo Nickal lost the fight by knockout in the second round after a knee to the body.
Bo Nickal competed in the first submission grappling match of his combat sports career at Third Coast Grappling 3 on December 7,2019, when he faced Gordon Ryan in the main event.
Bo Nickal represented iKon FC in a team grappling tournament at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 2 on July 3,2022.
Bo Nickal fought Eliot Kelly to a draw in the opening round and fought Oliver Taza to a draw in the final, with iKon FC taking second place in the tournament.
Bo Nickal married his wife Maddie Holmberg on December 12,2020.