Imagine dedicating your life to a sport, mastering every technique, and then watching someone disrespect it all by failing to meet the most basic requirement: making weight. That's exactly what happened to Bo Nickal when Yoel Romero missed weight by a staggering seven pounds for their highly anticipated light heavyweight bout at RAF 5. But here's where it gets controversial—Nickal isn't just disappointed; he's outright dismissive of Romero's inability to hit the 205-pound mark, calling it a slap in the face to the sport of wrestling. Instead of dwelling on the canceled match, Nickal is now setting his sights on what he calls ‘fake wrestlers’ in the MMA world, sparking a debate that’s sure to divide fans.
Originally, the Nickal-Romero matchup was one of the most talked-about fights on the card. However, when Romero stepped on the scale at 212 pounds, Nickal immediately withdrew. Romero was then paired with Stephen Buchanan, the 2025 NCAA champion from Iowa, leaving Nickal to voice his frustration. ‘Wrestling isn’t just about showing up; it’s about discipline, sacrifice, and respect for the sport,’ Nickal explained. ‘Missing weight by that much? It’s disrespectful.’ He didn’t hold back, pointing out that the boos from the crowd likely came from MMA fans who don’t understand the rigorous demands of wrestling. ‘Every wrestler here knows the grind of making weight,’ he added. ‘I was ready, but my opponent clearly wasn’t.’
This isn’t the first time the Nickal-Romero fight has fallen apart. The bout was initially scheduled for RAF 4 but was rebooked for RAF 5 after Nickal pulled out. Now, with Romero’s massive weight miss, Nickal seems uninterested in a third attempt unless Romero can legitimately make 205 pounds. ‘He’s a heavyweight, plain and simple,’ Nickal said bluntly. ‘He’s cutting from 230-plus pounds, and he couldn’t make the cut. I naturally weigh 205, and I fight at 185 in the UFC. Unless he can meet the weight, I’m not interested. But trust me, I’ve got my eye on plenty of other guys.’
With Romero off his radar, Nickal quickly shifted focus to the RAF 5 main event featuring Colby Covington and Luke Rockhold. While Covington boasts legitimate wrestling credentials as a former All-American from Oregon State, Rockhold is primarily known for his MMA career, holding titles in both the UFC and Strikeforce. And this is the part most people miss—Nickal is furious that these two were given the headlining spot over Olympic medalists like Kyle Dake and Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov. ‘Those guys in the main event? They’re fake wrestlers,’ Nickal declared. ‘It’s a travesty they’re there. Guys like Kadi Magomedov and Dake are world-class competitors who deserve that spotlight, not these guys who cry for attention. I’d love to face either of them and show them what real wrestling looks like.’
Nickal’s comments are sure to spark debate. Is he right to call out ‘fake wrestlers’ in MMA, or is he being too harsh? Does missing weight by seven pounds truly warrant such strong criticism? And who do you think deserves the main event spotlight more—proven wrestlers like Dake and Kadimagomedov, or crossover fighters like Covington and Rockhold? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments!
