At UFC 309, Bo Nickal continued his winning ways with a dominant performance against Paul Craig. He controlled the fight from start to finish, showing off his improved striking skills. The judges all saw it the same way, scoring every round in his favor with a clean 30-27 sweep. But what caught everyone’s attention wasn’t just the fight – it was what happened afterward.
As it turns out, Nickal had made a special “deal” with former President Donald Trump, who was sitting cageside for the event, as he revealed in a recent Instagram post. Nickal had to worry about keeping his end of a presidential bargain.
“The deal was he won so I had to win.”
The fight itself was a masterclass in Bo Nickal’s evolving skillset. He didn’t just rely on his wrestling background – he showed sharp striking that kept finding its mark through Craig’s defense. By the third round, he had opened a cut under Craig’s eye, proving he was more than just a mat wizard.
This whole situation adds another layer to Nickal‘s growing legacy in the UFC. From being a highly-touted prospect to delivering on the big stage with presidential eyes watching, he’s quickly becoming one of the most interesting stories in MMA.
UFC 309 Crowd Was Not Happy With Bo Nickal’s Performance
The atmosphere in the Garden turned sour as Nickal took a measured approach against Craig. Coming in as a massive betting favorite (-1200), fans expected Nickal to steamroll his opponent. But fighting isn’t always about highlight-reel moments – sometimes, it’s about smart strategy and staying undefeated.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
The crowd, however, didn’t get that memo and started chanting “overrated” during the fight. Nickal’s performance was technically sound, landing 57% of his significant strikes and controlling the fight from start to finish. The judges saw it clearly, scoring all three rounds for Nickal. But despite being a three-time NCAA Division I champion, he didn’t attempt a single takedown.
MSG crowd chanting “over rated” to Bo Nickal at #UFC309
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) November 17, 2024
While Nickal left MSG with another win on his record, the night served as a reminder that in combat sports, how you win can be just as important as winning itself. Still, an unexciting victory beats an exciting loss any day of the week!
Also Read: Bo Nickal Open To Fighting Undefeated Shara Magomedov, Says It’s “Not A Tough Fight”
