The UFC middleweight prospect who once faced BJJ legend Gordon Ryan after only three training sessions in the gi has reached a new milestone in his grappling journey—earning his purple belt following a spectacular knockout victory over accomplished Brazilian grappler Rodolfo Vieira at UFC 322.
Bo Nickal’s promotion came during his first-ever gi class at American Top Team, a fitting celebration after delivering what many consider the most impressive performance of his UFC career.
The former Penn State wrestling standout stopped Vieira, an ADCC champion and multiple-time world champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, with a devastating third-round head kick that silenced any remaining doubters about his striking evolution.
Nickal posted about the event on his social media, with the caption: “Had some fun at my first ever Gi class.”
The knockout itself represented a culmination of Nickal’s dedication to rounding out his game. After controlling Vieira early with relentless pressure and wrestling dominance, Nickal demonstrated the striking improvements he’s been methodically developing. By the third round, he was mixing targets effectively, using feints to set up exchanges, and ultimately uncorking a perfectly-timed head kick reminiscent of Leon Edwards’ famous finish.
Nickal’s relationship with jiu-jitsu has always been fascinating. In a conversation on the Mighty Mouse podcast, he revealed the remarkable story of his first high-level grappling match. When Gordon Ryan’s opponents kept withdrawing, Nickal saw an opportunity.
“I just dm’d him I was like ‘hey bro, like I don’t know what the issue is why nobody will go against you but like Count Me In man,'” Nickal recalled. “I’ll do it like tell the promoter to hit me up.”
With the match booked, he started his preparation. “I was like alright well I better start practicing Jiu-Jitsu so I did three Jiu-Jitsu [sessions],” he admitted.
The experience proved educational. “For me, that was honestly bittersweet,” Nickal reflected. “I wanted to go in there and shock the world and win and just rep wrestling and be like ‘see the Jiu-Jitsu doesn’t work.’ But it also taught me how much I do need to work on that part of my game and how important it is.”
That lesson has clearly resonated. Despite his wrestling pedigree, Nickal has embraced the technical intricacies of submission grappling, viewing it not as a competitor to wrestling but as a complementary discipline that enhances his overall game.
His transition to MMA hasn’t been without challenges. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the grappling aspects that gave him the most trouble. “The hardest thing for me to learn is honestly like kicks, calf kicks, body kicks, throwing kicks, checking kicks,” he explained. “When I first started throwing kicks, I could throw like three or four kicks and I’m gassed out.”
That same head kick that finished Vieira represents countless hours addressing those initial struggles—a testament to his work ethic and willingness to develop skills outside his comfort zone.
Nickal’s athletic foundation may explain his rapid adaptation across disciplines. His father ensured he never specialized too early, despite beginning wrestling at age five. “I did a bunch of sports growing up. I played football, baseball, ran track,” Nickal said. “My father actually made me take breaks periodically from wrestling. Up until I was 16 years old, there were a lot of other sports and things that I was doing.”
This multi-sport background cultivated the athletic intelligence and body awareness that now serves him in MMA’s multifaceted demands.
Looking ahead, Nickal’s ambitions extend beyond championship belts. His love for grappling competition hasn’t diminished—it’s only grown. “I’m gonna go till I feel like I’ve done what I needed to do in this Sport and then we’ll move on and I’ll probably do the same thing as you, I’ll start competing in Jiu-Jitsu tournaments because I love it and it’s so fun for me,” he told Mighty Mouse.
