Bo Nickal responded to news of Khamzat Chimaev signing with the RAF wrestling league by proposing himself as a potential opponent. The post suggests Nickal is once again pursuing a matchup with Chimaev, this time in a wrestling context rather than MMA. Details about whether this challenge was formal or whether RAF has responded remain unclear from the post. The emoji reactions included in the original post suggest mixed opinions on whether this is a smart move by Nickal.
Bo Nickal has publicly put his name forward as a potential opponent for Khamzat Chimaev following news that the middleweight contender has signed with the RAF wrestling league, signaling that Nickal's pursuit of a showdown with Chimaev has shifted from the MMA cage to the wrestling mat.
Nickal, 30, represents the United States out of American Top Team Happy Valley and carries a 9-1 professional MMA record. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, the southpaw has built his UFC reputation on suffocating grappling, averaging 3.1 takedowns and 2.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His striking has also proven sharp, with a 61 percent accuracy rate on significant strikes — a figure that ranks among the best in the sport.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," is the current number-one ranked middleweight and sits 10th on the pound-for-pound list with a 15-1 record. The 32-year-old, who competes out of the UAE and trains at Allstars Training Center, is one of the most complete fighters in the division. He averages an imposing 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 4.04 significant strikes landed per minute, making him a credible and dangerous opponent in any grappling format.
The nature of Nickal's callout remains informal. It is unclear whether the challenge carries any official weight or whether the RAF league has responded to the proposal. Reaction to the post was mixed, with emoji responses suggesting some skepticism about whether pursuing Chimaev in a wrestling setting is a calculated move for Nickal.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's involvement with the RAF wrestling league opens a new competitive arena outside of MMA
- A potential Nickal vs. Chimaev wrestling match would pit two of the sport's most decorated grappling-based fighters against each other
- The callout keeps alive what has become an ongoing pursuit by Nickal of a high-profile clash with Chimaev
