Bo Nickal and Yoel Romero have been rebooked for a third attempt at their RAF Wrestling match after two earlier cancellations. The bout is the first announced for RAF's New York event at UBS Arena on Long Island on December 19. The first meeting fell through when Nickal was forced out, and the second was scrapped when Romero missed weight at the following event. Nickal's UFC 335 grudge match with Joe Pyfer has been postponed, and he has said he wants to wait for Pyfer to heal so they can fight.
Bo Nickal and Yoel Romero are reportedly set for a third attempt at their RAF Wrestling match, with the bout said to be rebooked for December 19, according to Bloody Elbow. The report has not been officially confirmed.
The match would be the first announced for RAF's New York event at UBS Arena on Long Island. It has already fallen through twice. The first attempt collapsed when Nickal was forced out, and the second was scrapped when Romero missed weight at the following event.
Nickal, 30, is 9-1 in MMA and ranked 14th at middleweight. The American Top Team Happy Valley product is coming off a first-round KO/TKO of Kyle Daukaus at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, 2026, his most recent recorded fight. That followed a third-round stoppage of Rodolfo Vieira in November 2025 and his lone loss, a second-round KO/TKO against Reinier de Ridder in May 2025. His grappling numbers reflect his wrestling base: 3.1 takedowns per 15 minutes and 2.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes, alongside 61 percent striking accuracy.
Romero, 49, is 13-5 and an Olympic-level wrestler by pedigree, though that part of his story falls outside the figures here. His most recent recorded MMA bout was a five-round unanimous decision loss to Israel Adesanya in a title fight at UFC 248 on March 7, 2020. He averages 3.44 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and 1.57 takedowns per 15 minutes. The two are 19 years apart in age.
The matchup also sits against the backdrop of Nickal's UFC plans. His grudge match with Joe Pyfer, ranked sixth at middleweight, has been postponed. Nickal has said he wants to wait for Pyfer to heal so the fight can happen. Pyfer, 30 and 16-3, stopped Israel Adesanya in the second round at UFC Fight Night on March 28, 2026, his most recent recorded fight.
Why it matters
- The wrestling-rules format puts Nickal's grappling base front and center. Both men are southpaws, and Nickal carries a 1.53 edge in takedowns per 15 minutes over Romero in MMA.
- The bout keeps Nickal active while the Pyfer fight waits on his rival's recovery.
- With two earlier cancellations, the December 19 date still needs to hold, and Romero's weight miss remains the open question around the booking.
