Okay, so, let’s talk about Bo Nickal. I’ve been following this guy for a while now, and his wrestling career is just something else. I remember when I first started digging into his background, it was right around the time he was making waves in the UFC’s Middleweight division.
I started by watching some of his old matches, you know, just to get a feel for his style. This was back when he was with Penn State. Man, the guy was a beast even then! I dug through whatever I could find online about his college days. Three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion – in 2017, 2018, and there should be another time I guess. You don’t see that every day. It’s a big deal. Each of those wins was a whole event, and I watched replays of the finals. I remember seeing him win those championships.
- In 2017, he was just starting to make a name for himself.
- Then came 2018, and it was clear he was only getting better.
But it wasn’t just about the wins. It was how he won. Dominant, controlled, and always a step ahead. That’s what got me hooked. Then I looked into his other awards – two Schalles Awards, the 2019 Dan Hodge Trophy. This guy’s trophy case must be packed!
I also found out about his attempt to make the US Olympic Team. He faced David Taylor, another legend. The matches were tough, but the results came out as 0-4 and 0-6, it is a pity to fail. Still, going up against someone like Taylor and holding your own, that’s impressive. Taylor had a 45-match win streak, and Nickal was right there, challenging him.
And it’s not just wrestling. The guy’s got a blue belt in Jiu Jitsu. I tried to find some footage of him doing Jiu Jitsu, but it’s mostly wrestling stuff out there. It adds another layer to him, though, right?
From Wrestling to MMA
Then there’s his transition to MMA. I followed that closely, too. From what I gathered, he joined the UFC and immediately started turning heads. It’s like, he took all that wrestling skill and just adapted it to a whole new sport. I watched his first few fights in the UFC, and it was clear he was going to be a force. His ground game, his control, it’s all there. His wrestling is very useful in the matches of UFC.
I even tried to piece together his training routine. Lots of grappling, striking practice, and of course, conditioning. You can’t be at that level without putting in the work.
And, there are people saying he’s one of the greatest Nittany Lion wrestlers in history. That’s quite the title. Also, he won the 2019 U23 World Championship. He was really something back then.
So yeah, that’s my deep dive into Bo Nickal’s wrestling career. It’s been a wild ride following this guy, and I can’t wait to see what he does next in the UFC. If you’re into wrestling or MMA, you’ve got to check him out. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
