Bo Nickal, a three-time national champion and four-time All-American for Penn State’s wrestling program, won his second professional MMA fight in convincing fashion, submitting Zachary Borrego in 62 seconds.
The hype is REAL! @NoBickal gets the submission in just over a minute 😳 #DWCS pic.twitter.com/fvEIPaYK4r
— UFC (@ufc) August 10, 2022
Nickal, fighting in UFC boss Dana White’s Contender Series, is now 2-0 with two wins coming in a combined 1:35.
Plenty of people weighed in on Twitter, and here’s what 12 of them had to say.
MMA’s most prominent journalist wonders how some of the sport’s other promotions didn’t try harder to sign Nickal.
Bo Nickal wins via sub in 61 seconds.
He's on a different level. He didn't even break a sweat. Obviously, he'll get signed.
How PFL or Bellator didn't throw the farm at him before this is beyond me. He's an uber prospect and will be a massive player in the UFC in short order.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) August 10, 2022
Penn State’s quarterback appropriately summed up Nickal’s performance.
Bo. Nickal. 🤯
— Sean Clifford (@seancliff14) August 10, 2022
Jorge Masvidal, a UFC fighter with a 35-16 record, believes the hype is real.
Nickal has helped Masvidal train in the past, and Nickal made his MMA debut for Masvidal’s iKon Fighting Championship promotion.
And now you know @NoBickal @ikonfights #DWCS
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) August 10, 2022
An Olympic wrestling gold medalist and former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion gave Nickal a glowing review.
.@NoBickal is the FUTURE. Light work! #DWCS
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) August 10, 2022
As did a two-time national champion and current Penn State star.
Bo Nickal Era.
— Roman Bravo-Young (@RomanBravoYoung) August 10, 2022
Yours truly also weighed in.
There are many things I want to do in this life.
Getting in the octogon with @NoBickal isn’t one of them. https://t.co/6ZAqGQpJbj
— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) August 10, 2022
Perhaps the night’s only downside was that Nickal’s performance didn’t earn him a UFC contract just yet, even though others who fought on the card got offered.
White said Nickal has to win one more fight.
This confused some people.
Blood Diamond gets signed at 3-0, Alex Pereira gets signed at 3-1, CM Punk gets signed at 0-0 but Bo Nickal doesn’t get a contract after doing what he’s supposed to do?
— Ikestan (@thebestevr4) August 10, 2022
If I'm Bo Nickal, I would've never even glanced at a Contender Series contract.
A straight up slap in the face.
Now they're wondering, ON AIR, if the UFC should give him a deal.
K.
— Ryan McKinnell (@RyanMcKinnell) August 10, 2022
Bo Nickal is being punished for being Bo Nickal.
Strip away the name, and that performance earns a contract.
— Rory. (@RawrEWreckz) August 10, 2022
Jamal Pogues got a contract but Bo Nickal gotta come back and fight again…… pic.twitter.com/ioRZiIhntW
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) August 10, 2022
I am sick. I am disgusted. I am on my knees shaking, I just threw up. Our beloved Bo Nickal didn’t get a ufc contract..@danawhite You will be hearing from me in a COURT OF LAW. And this is a promise, not a threat. You deserve pain & suffering the likes of which nobody has endured pic.twitter.com/sCM4ba9Ex7
— Mᴀʀᴛʏs Hᴀɪʀʟɪɴᴇ (@MmaUnderdogs) August 10, 2022
Nickal’s manager, Malki Kawa, who runs the agency First Round Management, acknowledged Nickal not receiving a contract in a much more calm way.
Guys, relax. @NoBickal could be in the ufc, but I want to get him experience. Just trust the process. Sept we do it again.
— malki kawa (@malkikawa) August 10, 2022
