Bo Nickal believes Colby Covington walked away from MMA rather than face him, and he’s not holding back about it ahead of his next UFC appearance.
Nickal is scheduled to fight at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House this Sunday, and linked Covington’s recent retirement to their longstanding personal feud connected to American Top Team. "It's crazy that he doesn't want to fight me so bad that he ended his entire career," Nickal said, adding, "Probably a smart move by his part."
Before signing to fight Kyle Daukaus, Nickal had publicly challenged Covington to fight at the White House. Now his focus is on Daukaus, who was cut by the UFC in 2022 and re-signed in 2025. "It says a lot to be able to, you know, make it back to the UFC after being cut," Nickal said. "So he's a tough guy and has a lot of good skills. Looking forward to going out and putting on a dominant performance on Sunday."
Nickal, a former Penn State wrestling star with an 8-1 MMA record and 5-1 UFC record, views UFC Freedom 250 as a milestone moment. "I'm grateful for all the opportunities I've been given to compete at big events and exciting places, so this is definitely the biggest and most exciting that I've been a part of," he said. "Overall, just feeling really grateful for the opportunity, and yeah, it's a blessing. I want to make the most of it."
