Bo Nickal: From Penn State Champion to UFC Middleweight

Bo Nickal's NCAA titles, UFC and RAF results, and the wrestling skills covered in Easy Money Takedowns and Cradles and Tilts.

By Eric Lundgren · 2026-11-10T22:30:43.668Z · 5 min read

Bo Nickal brought a strong wrestling base into MMA: three NCAA titles at Penn State, the 2019 Hodge Trophy, and years of experience turning takedowns into control.

His move to the UFC shows both the value of that base and the adaptations another sport demands. Striking, cage positioning, and submission defense change when and how a wrestler can attack.

This article looks at his results and the wrestling themes behind his two Ocean instructionals.

TL;DR

Nickal won three NCAA titles at Penn State: 184 pounds in 2017 and 2018, then 197 in 2019. He won the 2019 Hodge Trophy.
UFC lists Nickal's professional MMA record as 9–1 as of October 2, 2026. His June 2026 win over Kyle Daukaus ended by first-round TKO.
He's still wrestling, too: he is 2–1 in Real American Freestyle, losing 3–2 to Max McEnelly at RAF 12 in August 2026 before beating 2008 Olympic champion Shirvani Muradov 11–8 at RAF Moscow in September
His wrestling remains an important part of his game, alongside the striking and defensive skills MMA requires.
Two Ocean instructionals capture his system: Easy Money Takedowns and Cradles and Tilts
For wrestlers considering MMA, the lesson is to retain their wrestling strengths while developing the rest of the skill set.

The Penn State years

Nickal won NCAA titles at 184 pounds in 2017 and 2018 and at 197 in 2019. He also won the 2019 Hodge Trophy. His 174-pound NCAA appearance was a runner-up finish in 2016. Penn State's athlete biography and 2019 honors report.

A useful way to study his college wrestling is to follow the whole scoring sequence: the tie that creates the entry, the finish, and the top attack that follows. Those are distinct skills that can be practiced together.

The transition: from mat to cage

Wrestling gives an MMA athlete tools for controlling where a fight happens. It does not remove the need to defend strikes, protect against submissions, or manage the cage.

Nickal lost to Reinier de Ridder in May 2025, then stopped Rodolfo Vieira at UFC 322 in November. UFC's record lists a first-round TKO over Kyle Daukaus at 4:34 on June 14, 2026. UFC's official profile and fight history.

As of October 2, 2026, UFC lists a 9–1 professional record. That is his overall MMA record, rather than nine UFC wins.

His wrestling instructionals can help explain the positional tools behind his game. They should not be presented as a complete MMA training program.

Still a wrestler: Real American Freestyle

Here's a part of the story that is easy to miss. Nickal didn't stop wrestling when he started fighting.

RAF's official record lists him at 2–1: a 6–4 win over Jacob Cardenas at RAF 01 in August 2025, a 3–2 loss to Max McEnelly at RAF 12 on August 22, 2026, and an 11–8 win over Shirvani Muradov at RAF Moscow on September 5, 2026. Nickal's RAF match history and USA Wrestling's RAF 12 results

Easy Money Takedowns: what the course covers

Nickal's Easy Money Takedowns on Athletes Ocean focuses on neutral-position wrestling.

The published description covers hand-fighting drills, tie-ups, neutral-position drills, takedown setups, snaps, high crotches, double legs, and ankle picks.

For a wrestler selecting a neutral-offense course, those topics provide a concrete match to a training goal. Practice the entries in your wrestling ruleset before attempting an MMA adaptation.

Cradles and Tilts: the pinning attack

The second Nickal instructional, Cradles and Tilts, covers the top-position game.

Its published description includes the cross-wrist tilt, cross-face butcher, cross-face cradles, top starting position, and stopping an opponent's first move. These are top-wrestling topics; their use in MMA needs to account for strikes and submissions.

For folkstyle wrestlers, the practical goal is to connect control to a turn without losing top position. The course gives that goal a specific set of techniques to study.

What this teaches a wrestler considering MMA

Keep the wrestling skills that let you establish control, then learn the adaptations needed for a different sport. That includes striking defense, entries that account for punches and kicks, submission awareness, and cage work.

The right training balance depends on your coach, experience, and goals. Nickal's results do not establish a universal ratio of wrestling to striking practice.

Where to learn from him directly

Bo Nickal's two Athletes Ocean instructionals focus on neutral offense and top wrestling:

Easy Money Takedowns — the takedown game
Cradles and Tilts — the top-position scoring system

For wrestlers, the courses offer technique instruction around those positions. MMA fans can use them to understand wrestling concepts while recognizing the additional skills cage competition requires.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Bo Nickal?

Bo Nickal is a three-time NCAA champion from Penn State, the 2019 Hodge Trophy winner, and a UFC middleweight. UFC lists his overall professional MMA record as 9–1 as of October 2, 2026.

How many NCAA titles did Bo Nickal win?

Three: 184 pounds in 2017 and 2018, and 197 in 2019. He was the NCAA runner-up at 174 in 2016.

Is Bo Nickal still wrestling or only doing MMA?

Both. His main career is the UFC, but he's active in Real American Freestyle. His two most recent matches were a 3–2 loss to Max McEnelly at RAF 12 in August 2026 and an 11–8 win over 2008 Olympic champion Shirvani Muradov at RAF Moscow in September 2026.

What was Bo Nickal's last UFC fight?

A first-round TKO of Kyle Daukaus at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on June 14, 2026 — his second straight stoppage win after beating Rodolfo Vieira at UFC 322.

What is "Easy Money Takedowns"?

Bo Nickal's takedown-focused Athletes Ocean instructional. Its description covers tie-ups, hand fighting, takedown setups, snap downs, and leg attacks including the high crotch, double leg, and ankle pick.

How does Bo Nickal's wrestling translate to MMA?

Takedown entries and control remain useful, but they must be adapted to strikes, submissions, and the cage. His wrestling courses cover wrestling technique, rather than the full MMA skill set.

What weight does Bo Nickal fight at in the UFC?

Middleweight, 185 pounds.

Eric Lundgren writes about wrestling, grappling, and the systems behind elite-level technique.

Explore the Athletes Ocean library to find instructionals for your training goals.