Bo Nickal eyes Middleweight title shot after UFC Freedom 250

Bo Nickal believes he is ready to fight for the UFC Middleweight championship.

The three-time NCAA national wrestling champion faces Kyle Daukaus at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House South Lawn in Washington, D.C., and told former title challenger Chael Sonnen he would call for a title shot with a win, MMA Mania reports. When Sonnen pressed him on whether he would target the world champion, Nickal agreed. "I think I'm ready to go," he said, per the outlet. "I think I'm training with the best guys in the world. I know where I'm at sparring with guys at American Top Team, and I'm proving it to myself there that I'm ready to compete at that level. I think that it is just a matter of time."

Nickal's path to title contention complicated by rankings

The 30-year-old is currently unranked and would need to leapfrog several contenders already positioned for a championship opportunity. Nickal rebounded from his first professional loss to Reinier de Ridder with a head kick knockout at UFC 322 inside Madison Square Garden late last year. He entered the UFC with a 3-0 record and rattled off four straight wins before the setback forced what he called a mental reset.

Daukaus has won multiple fights since returning to the promotion in 2025 and represents Nickal's toughest test on the historic card celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Nickal said he has been a champion in every discipline he has competed in since age five and views UFC gold as the next step. The promotion slow-rolled his early opponents but appears willing to accelerate his schedule if he continues winning.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Video: Persuaded Bo Nickal ‘ready’ to call for Middleweight title shot after UFC Freedom 250 – ‘Only a matter of time’