Heading into UFC 322, doubts surrounded Bo Nickal, everyone except his teammate, former BMF champion Jorge Masvidal. After facing heavy criticism and enduring a wave of hate, Nickal’s previously undefeated run suffered a setback earlier this year when he experienced the first loss of his career, shaking his confidence to the core. The situation worsened when, under public pressure, Dana White & Co. moved Nickal from the main card to the prelims, replacing his spot with a lightweight bout.

Yet in the fight, Bo Nickal left no room for doubt, brutally knocking out Rodolfo Vieira with a devastating head kick inside a packed Madison Square Garden. To many, it was just another highlight-reel knockout, but for the Penn State native, it was a defining moment. After the victory, he even flipped the bird at the crowd, silencing the critics with his performance. Nickal had delivered on every expectation. Following his return to the win column, Jorge Masvidal has now revealed exactly how Nickal developed such a dangerous kicking game.

Jorge Masvidal explains why kicks turned Bo Nickal into a serious threat

Not every MMA fan would expect a wrestling pedigree like Bo Nickal to deliver a knockout via head kick. On his ‘Death Row MMA’ podcast, former BMF titleholder Jorge Masvidal revealed the secret behind Nickal’s powerful kicking, a skill he has been honing since his collegiate days while training at American Top Team. ‘Gamebred’ said, “This is something we’ve been working on: his kicks to the body, kicks to the head, kicks to the leg, because he has naturally great kicks. He was a very flexible kid in college. You could see it in how he could do splits and lift his leg up with ease.”

In addition, Jorge Masvidal credited the gym for Bo Nickal’s striking improvement, which the former BMF champion says adds another level of danger to his technique. For example, when Nickal crouches to shoot at an opponent, it puts them in a tough position. Masvidal explained, “You can’t really tell if he is going to shoot right away or kick, so it becomes a great weapon for him to have.”

Bo Nickal first joined American Top Team through the gym near Pennsylvania State University, where he made his name in collegiate wrestling and first crossed paths with Jorge Masvidal, who also trained at the gym. Reflecting on the Penn State native’s performance at UFC 322, ‘Gamebred’ gave him an “A,” noting that his opponent was a formidable BJJ expert. Currently, Bo Nickal holds an 8-1-0 record in his MMA career.

Despite his success, the American wrestling prodigy is still a long way from challenging for the title and sits outside the top 15. His loss to Reinier de Ridder set him back, but it also gave him a chance for self-reflection, helping him strengthen his mental game. Even so, his next fight remains high-stakes and under the close watch of Dana White & Co. Drawing on his years of experience, Jorge Masvidal has suggested several potential opponents who could be Bo Nickal’s next challenge.

Masvidal picks potential next foes for Nickal

Earlier this year, Bo Nickal envisioned himself as a future divisional champion, even though he was still outside the top 15. He had a clear blueprint in mind and every reason to be confident. As a fan favorite in the United States, he was even catching the attention of  President Donald Trump. That’s why last year the promotion placed him on the main card of UFC 309. In front of Trump at Madison Square Garden,  Nickal proved his worth, though it came with a hint of arrogance.

However, his defeat to Reinier de Ridder humbled him. That one loss broke some of the arrogance and motivated Bo Nickal to refine his approach and stick to the rules. Now, his path forward is still taking shape, and his next opponents have yet to be revealed. According to Jorge Masvidal, there are already some names being considered.

Speaking on his podcast, Masvidal revealed, “I think we have to put Bo somewhere in the top 15. There are a lot of good fights out there for him. Jared Cannonier is a stud who has fought for the title, and that would be another tough fight, a big jump in competition… Joe Pyfer is another amazing guy with a lot of raw power. If that guy hits you, it could be a brief night. He is very explosive. I think one of the hardest hitters at 185 is probably Pyfer, so that is another good fight for Bo.”

Do you agree with Masvidal’s picks? Is Nickal ready to take on big names like Cannonier after what De Ridder did to him last time? Share your thoughts below.