Bo Nickal Returns to Wrestling, Joins Real American Freestyle While Continuing UFC Career

Bo Nickal is once again stepping onto the wrestling mat—but this time, it won’t mean a pause in his rising UFC career. The highly decorated NCAA champion and UFC middleweight has officially signed with the newly formed Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling organization, marking a unique chapter where he will simultaneously compete in both professional wrestling and mixed martial arts.

The announcement was confirmed by promotional officials, who shared the news with MMA Fighting, sparking considerable excitement in both wrestling and MMA circles. Nickal, known for his relentless competitive drive and elite athleticism, will now divide his focus between the UFC and this new wrestling venture, bringing his world-class skill set back to the sport where he first made his name.

RAF is the brainchild of several major figures in the wrestling and entertainment industry, including wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, former WCW executive Eric Bischoff, and renowned wrestling coach Izzy Martinez. The organization seeks to bridge the gap between traditional freestyle wrestling and modern entertainment, drawing from each of its founders' deep roots in performance, competition, and coaching.

“Bo Nickal is a tremendous athlete and one of the most accomplished wrestlers on the planet,” Hulk Hogan said in a release. “Nickal immediately elevates the RAF roster to new heights with his competitiveness and experience. When fans attend an RAF event they know they’re going to see the best of the best on the mat.”

Nickal’s return to wrestling feels like a full-circle moment. A three-time NCAA Division I National Champion at Penn State, he was widely considered one of the best amateur wrestlers in the United States before transitioning to MMA. His dominance on the mat earned him the 2019 Dan Hodge Trophy, often dubbed the Heisman Trophy of collegiate wrestling.

Since moving to MMA, Nickal has carved out an impressive record. He exploded onto the scene with a 31-second knockout in his professional debut. That performance earned him a place on Dana White’s Contender Series, where he quickly dispatched both of his opponents in the first round, securing a UFC contract and building momentum as one of the sport’s hottest prospects.

Nickal went on to notch four straight wins inside the UFC octagon, demonstrating his striking power, ground control, and composure under pressure. However, his undefeated streak came to an end at UFC Des Moines in May, where he suffered his first professional loss at the hands of Reinier de Ridder—a result that served as both a setback and motivation for the rising star.

Now, with his involvement in RAF, Nickal looks to channel his wrestling pedigree into a platform that celebrates the purity and excitement of freestyle wrestling while maintaining his MMA ambitions. For fans, it’s a rare opportunity to witness a combat sports athlete operating at the highest level across two disciplines.

His decision could also open the door for more crossover athletes, showcasing the evolving nature of combat sports where specialization and versatility no longer have to be mutually exclusive.