UFC middleweight Bo Nickal will return to wrestling at the inaugural Real American Freestyle event on August 30 in Cleveland, facing Jacob Cardenas, after his first pro MMA loss.
UFC middleweight Bo Nickal is making a comeback to wrestling. He’s set to compete at the inaugural Real American Freestyle event on August 30 at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, facing Jacob Cardenas.
Nickal’s staying busy in combat sports despite a recent setback. After his first pro MMA loss to Reinier de Ridder in May’s UFC Des Moines, he’s diving back into wrestling while continuing his MMA journey.
Cardenas, a two-time All-American from Cornell, snagged his third NCAA All-American title at the University of Michigan in the 2024-2025 season. Quite the resume!
Other exciting bouts include former Bellator champ Darrion Caldwell vs. Real Woods. Plus, Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades takes on Alejandra Arriga.
And that’s not all! Two-time PFL champ Lance Palmer and Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hildebrandt are also on the card. More matches are expected, with a "featured main card bout" still under wraps.
Broadcast details? Still a mystery. But Chael Sonnen will be part of the commentary team, adding his unique flair.
Check out the current RAF01 card below:
- Bo Nickal vs. Jacob Cardenas
- Austin O’Connor vs. James Green
- Darrion Caldwell vs. Real Woods
- Austin Gomez vs. Lance Palmer
- Yianni Diakomihalis vs. Bajrang Punia
- Kennedy Blades vs. Alejandra Arriga
- Sarah Hildebrandt vs. Yeltsin Guerra
Stay tuned for more updates!