Kyle Daukaus admits he 'hated' UFC after release before resurgence
Kyle Daukaus stopped watching UFC fights for months after his release in 2024, turned his back on the sport temporarily, and questioned whether he would ever compete again.
The middleweight, who meets Bo Nickal at UFC White House on June 14, went 2-4-1 during his first stint with the promotion. Per Sherdog, Daukaus described the period following his exit as one in which he "hated the sport itself." He continued training but avoided UFC broadcasts for three or four months, uncertain about his future as a fighter.
How Daukaus rebuilt confidence in Cage Fury
Daukaus returned to Cage Fury Fighting Championships, the regional circuit where he developed his grappling-heavy game. Over the span of a year, he finished four opponents to capture a title and restore his belief that he belonged at the top level. "I told myself that if I'm gonna continue to do this, I had to get back to the UFC," Daukaus said in a UFC interview. "There's no ifs and buts about it."
A late-notice opportunity against Michel Pereira in 2025 brought Daukaus back to the Octagon. He upset Pereira, then submitted Gerald Meerschaert in 50 seconds to secure a spot opposite Nickal, the unbeaten wrestling standout who closed as a heavy favourite in his last two outings.
The bout streams live as part of a seven-fight card June 14. Nickal enters 8-1 and has never been past the second round.
Photo: Fight Bananas Official / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Original reporting:
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