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Bo Nickal vs Yoel Romero: Top prospect booked to face 48-year-old former contender in title bout

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Jordan Ellis | Last updated Nov 30, 2025 10:09 AM ET

UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal is set to compete again before 2025 is over.

The three-time NCAA Division I wrestler scored a vicious head kick knockout at UFC 322 on November 15.

Post-fight, Bo Nickal didn’t know if he’d make a quick return to the Octagon or wait to fight on the UFC White House card in June.

It now appears that the 29-year-old has found a way to stay busy away from the sport of MMA.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Bo Nickal to face Yoel Romero

Michael Chandler snapped his losing streak by beating Chad Mendes at RAF03 on Saturday night.

Real American Freestyle (RAF), the first unscripted pro-wrestling league, hosted its third event in Chicago. Next up, the promotion will put on an event at the Fishers Event Center in Indiana on December 20.

Bo Nickal and Yoel Romero will clash for the light heavyweight title at RAF04, which is set to be headlined by a heavyweight title bout between recent NCAA champion Wyatt Hendrickson and 2024 Olympian Mason Parris.

Former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is slated to appear on the card against David Carr.

Bo Nickal vs. Yoel Romero are set to face each other in a Freestyle Wrestling Match on RAF 04 pic.twitter.com/xWQ6Rp2rfA
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) November 30, 2025

UFC star will accept half pay for Bo Nickal fight

UFC middleweight contender Caio Borralho wants to face Bo Nickal at the White House.

The Brazilian says he’d even be willing to take a pay cut to make that fight happen next summer.

“Right away, if the UFC offers me Bo Nickal in the White House, I would fight for half the purse,” Borralho said recently.

“These fighters are excellent in their disciplines, but they don’t yet have the level of a solid top 10 MMA fighter,” he added about Nickal and Reinier de Ridder.

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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