Bo Nickal

Bo Nickal
Nickal at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2023
BornBo Dean Nickal[1]
(1996-01-14) January 14, 1996 (age 28)
Rifle, Colorado, U.S.
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
DivisionMiddleweight (2022–present)
Reach75 in (191 cm)
StyleWrestling
StanceSouthpaw
Fighting out ofState College, Pennsylvania, U.S.
TeamAmerican Top Team
RankBlue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[2]
WrestlingNCAA Division I Wrestling[3]
Years active2022–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total6
Wins6
By knockout2
By submission4
Losses0
Amateur record
Total2
Wins2
By knockout1
By submission1
Losses0
Other information
UniversityPennsylvania State University
Notable school(s)Allen High School (TX)
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing  United States
U23 World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2019 Budapest 92 kg
US National Championships
Gold medal – first place 2019 Las Vegas 92 kg
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Penn State Nittany Lions
NCAA Division I Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 St. Louis 184 lb
Gold medal – first place 2018 Cleveland 184 lb
Gold medal – first place 2019 Pittsburgh 197 lb
Silver medal – second place 2016 New York 174 lb
Big Ten Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Iowa City 174 lb
Gold medal – first place 2018 East Lansing 184 lb
Gold medal – first place 2019 Minneapolis 197 lb
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Bloomington 184 lb

Bo Dean Nickal (born January 14, 1996) is an American professional mixed martial artist, former freestyle and graduated folkstyle wrestler who currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[4][5] In freestyle wrestling, he claimed the 2019 U23 World Championship and the US Open national championship, and was a finalist at the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials and a Final X contestant in 2019.[6][7][8] As a collegiate wrestler, Nickal was a three-time NCAA Division I national champion (finalist in 2016) and a three-time Big Ten Conference champion out of Pennsylvania State University.[3]

Considered one of the most accomplished Nittany Lions of all-time, Nickal earned the 2019 Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation's most outstanding collegiate wrestler, was a two-time Schalles Award winner as the nation's best pinner and was also named the 2019 Big Ten Athlete of the Year.[9][10]

  1. ^ "Bo Nickal MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  2. ^ BjjTribes (October 27, 2021). "Wrestling Champion Bo Nickal gets promoted to blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu". BjjTribes. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Bo Nickal - Wrestling". Penn State University Athletics. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  4. ^ Collegian, Jake Aferiat | The Daily (October 30, 2019). "Former Penn State wrestler Bo Nickal claims U23 Senior World championship crown at 92 kg". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  5. ^ "Bo Nickal | UFC". www.ufc.com. June 28, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  6. ^ "Bo Nickal Dominates at U-23 World Championships | News & Updates | Nittany Lion Wrestling Club". www.nittanylionwrestlingclub.com. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  7. ^ NJ.com, Bill Evans | NJ Advance Media for (June 9, 2019). "J'den Cox sweeps past Bo Nickal at Final X Rutgers, has chance to defend world title". nj. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  8. ^ "Bo Nickal Wins Gold at U.S. Open National Championship". Penn State University Athletics. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  9. ^ "College wrestling: All-time Penn State lineup | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  10. ^ "Bo Nickal is the 2019 Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year". Team USA. July 3, 2019. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022.