Bo Nickal and Yoel Romero, both accomplished wrestlers turned MMA fighters, will face off in a wrestling match at Real American Freestyle 4 on December 20, alongside other high-profile bouts.
Bo Nickal and Yoel Romero, two of the most accomplished wrestlers in MMA, are set to return to their wrestling roots. They’re gearing up for a showdown at Real American Freestyle 4 this December.
During the RAF 3 event in Chicago, Izzy Martinez announced the exciting matchup. Nickal will defend his light heavyweight title against Romero, an Olympic silver medalist, on Dec. 20 at the Fishers Event Center in Indiana.
Nickal recently made headlines with a knockout at UFC 322. He’s stepping back into wrestling after winning the inaugural light heavyweight title at the first RAF event in August, where he defeated Jacob Cardenas.
In his wrestling days, Nickal was a three-time NCAA National Champion at Penn State. After missing the 2020 Olympic team, he transitioned to MMA, boasting an 8-1 record, with a 5-1 streak in the UFC.
Romero, at 48, remains a formidable force, defying age in BKFC and Dirty Boxing. Returning to wrestling, he carries a storied past, including a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics and a World Championship in 1999.
Interestingly, Romero is one of the few to have defeated Olympic gold medalist Cael Sanderson. Sanderson, now a coach at Penn State, guided Nickal to his NCAA triumphs.
The RAF 4 card also features a heavyweight title bout between NCAA champ Wyatt Hendrickson and 2024 Olympian Mason Parris. Plus, former UFC champ Belal Muhammad will face David Carr, adding more excitement to the event.