Bo Nickal is one of the best wrestlers of his generation and now the three-time NCAA champion has earned an official UFC contract. Nickal was competing on an episode of Dana White’s Contender Series in his most recent fight and he managed to lock up a beautiful triangle choke after less than a minute of action in the very first round. This victory, the third of his professional MMA career, prompted Dana White to offer him a UFC contract, bringing him into the world’s most prestigious combat sports promotion.
This isn’t the first time that the elite wrestler has been able to show off his ever-increasing submission skills either, as he was awarded his blue belt in BJJ back in 2021 after making his amateur MMA debut. He won his first MMA fight by putting his opponent to sleep in the first round, sending out a clear signal that he was ready for the next step already. Nickal really kicked his MMA career into high gear in 2022 though, as he made his professional debut on June 3rd and knocked out John Noland at iKon FC 3.
Nickal went back to his roots shortly afterward though as he competed in grappling matches at UFC FightPass Invitational 2, registering two draws with veteran BJJ black belts Elliot Kelly and Oliver Taza. He then made his first appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series in August and submitted his opponent, but didn’t earn a UFC contract at the time because White believed that he needed more experience. It seems as though he changed his mind though, as Nickal’s third professional fight that earned him a contract was less than two months later. Nickal now holds a 3-0 professional record with three finishes and a total of just 2 minutes and 27 seconds spent fighting in the cage so far.
The full episode of Dana White’s Contender Series that features Bo Nickal winning by submission and earning his UFC contract will be available to watch on UFC FightPass, click here to subscribe and watch.
