Bo Nickal: podcast appearances and interviews

Bo Dean Nickal, born on January 14, 1996, is an American professional mixed martial artist and wrestler. He competes in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where as of June 27, 2026, he is ranked number 13 in the UFC middleweight rankings. Nickal also competes in the light heavyweight division of Real American Freestyle (RAF), having held the title of inaugural RAF Light Heavyweight Champion. His wrestling career includes notable achievements in freestyle wrestling, such as winning the 2019 U23 World Championship and the US Open national championship. He was a finalist at the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials and participated as a Final X contestant in 2019. As a collegiate wrestler, Nickal was a three-time NCAA Division I national champion and a finalist in 2016, representing Pennsylvania State University. During his college career, he secured three Big Ten Conference titles and was considered one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the history of the Penn State program. Nickal received the 2019 Dan Hodge Trophy, awarded to the nation's most outstanding collegiate wrestler, and was a two-time winner of the Schalles Award for best pinner. Additionally, he was named the 2019 Big Ten Athlete of the Year. His wrestling accomplishments are complemented by his success in mixed martial arts, making him one of the prominent figures transitioning between amateur wrestling and professional MMA competition.