Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight prospect Bo Nickal is set to return for the first time since suffering his first professional loss when he faces Rodolfo Vieira next month at UFC 322
inside the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Because the card is absolutely stacked, there’s a strong chance Nickal will compete on the Prelims for the first time in his career.
For those who may not remember, Nickal once went viral for saying he would “retire” if the UFC ever put him on the “Prelims”. At the time, the three-time NCAA Division I national champion believed his star power warranted main-card billing every time out — a stance that drew criticism from fans.
But don’t worry — Nickal won’t retire if he’s on the undercard this time around. In fact, the blue-chip prospect says he doesn’t even mind being the curtain jerker. That’s right — the same fighter who appeared on the main card of UFC 300 over several former champions says he’s now been humbled by experience.
“I remember the specific instance when you asked me if I was going to be on the prelims, and I scoffed at it,” Nickal told Ariel Helwani today. “I was definitely arrogant, but there was a little bit of truth to that in my position, but at the same time, it was arrogant. So, now I don’t really care where I fight. If UFC wants to put me first on the fight card, then I’m happy to do it. It’s definitely part of this humbling…I don’t feel like I should get anything I don’t deserve, and I want to earn everything I have.”
Eat what you kill, Bo.
Nickal (7-1) is coming off a second-round TKO loss to Reinier de Ridder (watch highlights) and is looking to rebuild himself as a future Middleweight contender when he takes on his third straight elite grappler inside the Octagon.
Checkout who else is fighting on UFC 321 right here.
