Where Does Bo Nickal Train? Gym, Coach, Teammates, & More

Bo Nickal is on the move again. Undefeated, unbothered, and still climbing, the wrestling phenom returns to action at UFC on ESPN 67. This time, he faces Reinier De Ridder—a former two-division ONE Championship titleholder. On paper, it’s Nickal’s toughest test yet.

But for fans who’ve followed his journey from the mat to the cage, it’s the next chapter in a story that feels like it’s just getting started. But where does all that firepower come from? What gym is behind the rise of this wrestling prodigy turned UFC threat? Let’s take a closer look.

Bo Nickal’s gym and training

Bo Nickal represents the famous American Top Team, which operates out of Coconut Creek, Florida. He entered into a deeper relationship with them when he entered into a partnership for their Happy Valley branch that opened in 2021 in Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania. Nickal transitioned from wrestling to Mixed Martial Arts in 2019 and has been making strides at the gym ever since.

American Top Team founder Dan Lambert was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm of the people of the small locality where their gym was opening up. If you feel like the name American Top Team rings a bell, it’s because it’s the gym that’s behind many fighters and champions.

The list includes Dustin Poirier, Amanda Nunes, Tyron Woodley, Jorge Masvidal, and many more. Nickal is well on his way to finding himself in the upper rankings so that he can eventually be up there to challenge the champion. “One thing I feel makes this area so special is the support in the community and I’ve really felt that truly for the last seven years since I moved to State College,” he said about the new gym in an interview.

Bo Nickal’s coach has full faith in him

Bo Nickal’s MMA career is relatively fresh off the wrestling mat. He’s young in the sport, but there’s no way to deny that he was a great college wrestler. Does that always help translate to the cage? His coach believes Nickal has all the tools and grit that he’ll need.

“Obviously, he’s moving quickly,” coach Mike Brown from the American Top Team once said. “He literally has three minutes of professional fighting experience. I think he’s had five fights [total], they’ve all been pretty quick if you count his amateur career. I don’t even need to say it. This guy is not a normal guy . . .”

He even added that Nickal has what it takes to conquer the division which is currently dominated by heavy strikers. “Of course, he has the ability to be a UFC champion and that’s the direction he’s headed. That’s where we’re going. He has everything he needs to make that happen and I think he’s on that path.”

Bo Nickal’s teammates

Bo Nickal does not directly train with many fighters from American Top Team, given the relatively remote location of Pleasant Gap. However, in terms of being from the same gym, there are many. From the middleweight division itself, Nickal shares the same team as former UFC star Yoel Romero and Bellator champ Johnny Eblen.

From other weight classes, as mentioned before, he’s on the same team as Dustin Poirier and Tyron Woodley. From welterweight apart from Woodley, he’s also teammates with Jorge Masvidal, the former BMF title holder, and has even helped ‘Gamebred’ prepare for his fights.

Now, all eyes shift to UFC on ESPN 67. Reinier De Ridder isn’t just any name. He’s a tactician, a grappling ace, and no stranger to pressure. But can he out-wrestle a man raised in the fire of NCAA dominance? Or will this turn into a striking war between two grapplers confident in their abilities on the ground? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!