“No matter what you believe, left, right, right or wrong, whatever you feel like, man, everybody should be able to go home at the end of the day, be with their babies, be with their wives. We’re America, let’s be better. So, let’s act better. So, God bless the Charlie family” – an emotional Steve Garcia said after his UFC Vegas 110 main event win last week. It has been two months since Charlie Kirk, a close ally of Donald Trump and founder of Turning Point USA, tragically died. Yet, his memory lingers on in the combat sports world, with Bo Nickal finally addressing his unfortunate demise.

Kirk’s death shocked the sports world as well, with UFC fighters such as Henry Cejudo and Aljamain Sterling paying tribute. Amid the grief, UFC star Bo Nickal, known for his ties to right-wing circles and support for Trump, remained silent for months. However, he has finally addressed the tragedy publicly ahead of his UFC 322 appearance.

UFC 322: Bo Nickal gets emotional discussing Charlie Kirk’s legacy

UFC middleweight star Bo Nickal recently appeared on the Benny Johnson Show, where the host asked, “What affected Charlie Kirk in your life?” Without hesitation, Nickal replied, “Man, I think that I loved his example as a family man, as a man of God, as a guy who’s honest, who stood up for what was right and what he believed in despite, just like, unrelenting opposition.”

Reflecting on his encounter with Charlie Kirk and feeling “goosebumps” at the moment, Nickal recalled how meaningful it was to meet someone who inspired the younger generation, “He just stood for what was right despite all that. And I just appreciate that so much. He’s just a great example.”

Nickal went on, “And I think that it’s so sad. I just think about his wife and kids. Obviously, I have a wife and kids too, and it’s just… he was taken too soon. But I think that our responsibility now is to keep spreading that message and that positivity that he spread and stand for the truth.” He added, “So I feel like the people who are really standing on the front lines are, you know, those guys. I look up to them.”

Expressing admiration for the work of military personnel, whom he regards as having careers “more important,” than his fighting career, Bo Nickal opened up about his own role. “For me, I’ve been given gifts, and I have an opportunity to spread a positive message because of my platform. But I think there are a lot of people out there that are doing real work. I look at fighting as just… it’s my career, it’s a sport, it’s my job… But there’s a lot of other… there’s a big world out there.”

Bo Nickal has also been a vocal supporter of Donald Trump in the UFC, a loyalty recognized by Trump himself, who attended Madison Square Garden when Nickal fought and won at UFC 309 last year. However, this time, circumstances are different, and the situation presents more personal challenges for Nickal.

Will Donald Trump attend UFC 322 to support Nickal?

“Bo Nickal, he’s a great fighter. How’s he gonna do? I think he’s terrific. He’s almost like, undefeated in college. When is he fighting again? Oh, that’s gonna be interesting, after the election [UFC 309]? So, I’ll either go as president, or I’ll be depressed and I won’t bother going. Yeah, I think they’re having a fight right after,” said Donald Trump when asked about Nickal’s fight ahead of UFC 309. During the podcast, Trump called Nickal the UFC’s next star and praised his talent.

Following his election win, Trump attended Madison Square Garden to support Nickal, who delivered by winning the fight via decision. However, Bo Nickal’s momentum suffered a setback in the summer when Reinier de Ridder finished him on the feet, breaking the narrative around the former NCAA star. Since then, Nickal has been working toward a comeback, aiming for the upcoming Madison Square Garden event. Things are, however, different this time as he will appear on the prelims for the first time in his UFC career.

Last year, Donald Trump actively promoted the UFC, but as president, he limited his appearances this year, attending only UFC 314 and UFC 316. However, Trump is unlikely to miss the Madison Square Garden event, as the White House and UFC are coordinating next year’s celebration to coincide with his birthday on June 14. Stay tuned for further updates.