“Bo Nickal might be the most successful athlete we’ve ever had on the Contender Series. Three-time NCAA champion, never lost a match in college… this kid is special. ” Dana White’s 2022 statement signals how highly the UFC CEO was banking on Bo Nickal . Right from giving him the UFC 285 PPV main card debut despite having just one pro fight, to giving him the UFC 300 main card opener spot over former champions Cody Garbrandt, Jiri Prochazka, and Aljamain Sterling in 2024, the hype was unreal. But now, just a year removed, Nickal’s career has seen a steep downfall.

It all started at UFC 300 in Las Vegas. Nickal, then 5-0, faced Cody Brundage in what was a historic main card. The result? The southpaw secured a rear-naked choke at 3:38 of round 2 and won the fight. Despite the win, though,

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