Wrestling standout Bo Nickal has his opponent for the September 27 edition of Dana White’s Contender Series.
During Saturday’s UFC San Diego broadcast, promotion officials announced the Nickal (2-0) will face Donovan Beard (6-1) in his second Contender Series appearance this year.
A three-time NCAA Division I national champion and three-time Big 10 conference champ, Nickal represents one of the hottest prospects in mixed martial arts at the moment. After making his pro debut on Jorge Masvidal’s iKon FC 3 earlier this year — winning via knockout — the middleweight arrived on the Contender Series last Tuesday, dominating Zachary Borrego and submitting him in just over a minute.
Borrego, who missed weight for the fight, did not have much to offer Nickal. He will likely get a tougher test from Beard, who is the current Cage Fury FC middleweight champion.
Beard defeated Miles Lee at the end of July to capture the then-vacant CFFC 185lb title.
Following Nickal’s initial showing on the Contender Series, UFC President Dana White noted that the wrestler “looked incredible,” adding that “the only reason I didn’t sign him tonight is because he’s 2-0 now.”
Should Nickal pick up another win, it’s a near-certainty that the UFC will lock up the potential future star.
