It’s been well over eight years since Bo Nickal turned March 17, 2018, into one of the brightest nights in Penn State wrestling history.
His first-period pin over Ohio State’s Myles Martin sealed the team championship for Penn State and led to an iconic post-match interview.
Fast forward to Saturday night, and Nickal was in the same arena.
But this story didn’t have a happy ending. He lost to Minnesota’s Max McEnelly 2-1. McEnelly is the reigning national champ at 184 pounds, where Nickal won two of his three national championships. The loss was a disappointing one for Nickal, but he still has plenty to look forward to in 2026.
Nickal has become a rising star in the UFC, with his most recent win being on the White House lawn. He plans to fight again this year, with a time and place to be determined.
