Bo Nickal responded to the news of Khamzat Chimaev signing with the RAF wrestling league by proposing himself as a potential opponent. The post includes a poll asking if this matchup would be interesting or if Nickal is making a mistake challenging Chimaev again. No details are provided about whether RAF or either fighter has acknowledged this callout. The post is brief and lacks additional context about timing or likelihood of the bout.
Bo Nickal has publicly called out Khamzat Chimaev for a match in the RAF wrestling league, responding directly to news that Chimaev had signed with the organization by putting himself forward as a potential opponent.
Nickal, 30, carries a 9-1 professional record and trains out of American Top Team Happy Valley. The six-foot-one southpaw owns a 76-inch reach and has built a reputation as one of MMA's most decorated wrestling-based prospects, averaging 3.1 takedowns per 15 minutes and 2.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes in his career. His striking has also drawn attention, with a 61 percent accuracy rate on significant strikes.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," enters the picture as one of the sport's most imposing figures. The 32-year-old holds a 15-1 record and is currently ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound standings. Fighting out of Allstars Training Center and representing the United Arab Emirates, the six-foot-two Orthodox fighter averages an eye-catching 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the most dominant grapplers in the game. He also produces 4.04 significant strikes per minute at 60 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's elite takedown volume makes a pure wrestling context a genuine test for Nickal, himself a celebrated collegiate wrestling standout
- A matchup between the middleweight division's top-ranked fighter and one of its most talked-about rising names carries significant divisional weight
- It remains unclear whether RAF, Chimaev, or any official party has acknowledged Nickal's callout, leaving the proposal unconfirmed at this stage
