Bo Nickal has a reputation that has been consistently preceding him for a while now. The wrestling sensation successfully forayed into MMA and is on a 5-fight win streak. Come UFC 300, he will face Cody Brundage in his third straight PPV main card appearance. And as usual, his wrestling exploits are being hailed as we approach fight day.

Nickal has been one of the best wrestlers in the UFC and his freestyle wrestling record of 28-10 and an NCAA record of 120-3 speak for themselves. Do these records mean that Nickal is a better wrestler than Khamzat Chimaev and Khabib Nurmagomedov? Let us find out.

When you look at Bo Nickal’s combat resume, the numbers hit you like a double-leg takedown. A 120–3 NCAA career, a U23 World Championship, three straight national titles, and a meteoric transition into MMA, all before turning 30. And as he prepares for Rodolfo Vieira at UFC 322, one question hangs in the air: how did someone this decorated, this early, carve out a legacy across two different sports?

Nickal’s dominance didn’t begin in the UFC. It was forged in college wrestling rooms, refined in Olympic trials, and tested in heartbreak before exploding onto MMA’s biggest stage. So let’s trace the journey, from Penn State to the Olympic mats, to the UFC Octagon. And where better to begin than with the run that made him a household name?

Three-Time NCAA Champion: Bo Nickal’s Penn State Dominance

Bo Nickal arrived at Penn State in 2014 as one of the most sought-after recruits in the country. Hailing from Allen High School, Texas, he chose legendary coach Cael Sanderson, and the impact was immediate. As a freshman in 2016, he finished as the NCAA runner-up at 174 pounds.

Then the fireworks began. Nickal went on to win three straight NCAA championships, closing his college career with a staggering 120–3 record and a 68-match winning streak. Every year he was in the lineup, from 2016 to 2019, Penn State won the NCAA team title.

His transition from blue-chip recruit to collegiate juggernaut felt like watching a storm gather force. You could see it coming. You just couldn’t stop it. With a career like that, the next logical step was the world stage. And that takes us to the Olympic dream, and the heartbreak that followed.

Olympic Trials Heartbreak: Losing to David Taylor & What Went Wrong

After graduating in 2019, Nickal set his sights on making the 2020 Tokyo Olympic team. Not only was he a three-time NCAA champion, but he had also become the 2019 U23 World Champion, proving he could compete against elite international talent.

At the 2021 Olympic Trials, he tore through the field at 86kg. He beat two-time NCAA champion Carter Starocci (6–1), US Open champion Pat Downey (13–3), and Zahid Valencia (12–5). His run set up a showdown with fellow Penn State legend David Taylor, the reigning world champion with a 45-match win streak.

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Taylor swept the best-of-three series, beating Nickal 4–0 and 6–0. The dream was gone in minutes. And yet, the respect between them ran deep. Taylor said afterward, “We had a discussion leading up to it, and we have such a deep room in the wrestling club, especially at 86 kilos, so we’re challenged every single day, and none of us would be where we are without each other. Bo’s amazing, and I wouldn’t be where I am without Bo.”

Losing to a future Olympic gold medalist is no shame. But for Bo Nickal, the defeat marked a turning point. Instead of spending years chasing another Olympic cycle, he saw a different path forming. And that path led straight toward the cage.

Why Bo Nickal Chose UFC Over Continuing His Wrestling Career

The moment the Olympic Trials ended, Nickal didn’t pause. He pivoted immediately to MMA. And the transition looked almost effortless. He fought twice as an amateur in late 2021, submitting David Conley in September and knocking out Billy Goode in November, both in the first round. That momentum carried into his pro debut on June 3, 2022, where he knocked out John Noland in under a minute.

Three fights, three finishes, zero stress, and naturally, the UFC took notice. Nickal received a shot on Dana White’s Contender Series. On August 9, 2022, he submitted Zachary Borrego in round one. Then, on September 27, 2022, he submitted Donovan Beard again in the first round. That performance earned him a UFC contract on the spot. 

His wrestling credentials didn’t just carry over to MMA; they supercharged him for 4  straight UFC wins, before a tough knockout loss to Reinier de Ridder in May 2025. Now he’s gearing up for the next chapter at UFC 322!