Who saw that coming? Bo Nickal didn’t even bother using his NCAA Division I wrestling to earn his latest UFC win over Val Woodburn.
Who needs wrestling when you have fists of fury like Bo Nickal? Nickal is a NCAA Division I champion, but he didn’t need to fall back on his world class grappling skills to beat late replacement Val Woodburn at UFC 290. Nickal iced Woodburn in just 38 seconds, proving that he’s got more than one skillset to rely on.
Woodburn came out cautious, waiting for Nickal to shoot. There were a few exchanges of strikes, but Woodburn’s length prevented him from landing anything significant on Nickal. When you’re waiting for a shot, your hands are always a little bit more down than they should be. Maybe that’s why Bo Nickal had no problem hitting Woodburn with a big right hook that landed flush on the chin, stunning his opponent. An uppercut followed, sending Woodburn to the canvas. The referee quickly stepped in to stop Nickal from following up with ground and pound.
Watch the highlights here care of ESPN:
ANOTHER FIRST ROUND FINISH FOR BO NICKAL #UFC290 pic.twitter.com/IgyYBglxnV
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 9, 2023
38 seconds #UFC290 pic.twitter.com/oMVUzbDHRZ
— UFC (@ufc) July 9, 2023
Bo Nickal TKOs Val Woodburn in 38 seconds at UFC 290 pic.twitter.com/BoAqJe5XtT
— Takedown Defense (@ChillemThreebo) July 9, 2023
— MS (@UFC_Obsessed) July 9, 2023
BO NICKAL WITH THE KO!!!
You read that right! ???@NoBickal showcasing a different kind of power for the finish! #UFC290 pic.twitter.com/sqWlYXiE8r
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) July 9, 2023
The win moves Nickal to 2-0 in the UFC and 5-0 overall as a professional. While it’s hard to tell too much of Bo’s potential given the unfortunate last-minute replacement nature of his opponent, a man with this much competitive experience at a NCAA Division I level already has a high ceiling. We can’t wait to see what he can do in his next fight.
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 290 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard bouts on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 290: “Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 290 fight card and PPV lineup click here.