Ali Akbar Rosady
UFC middleweight contender Bo Nickal has vigorously defended his decision to withdraw from his highly anticipated grappling bout against Olympic medalist Yoel Romero at RAF 5 this past weekend, following Romero’s significant failure to make the agreed-upon 205-pound weight limit. Nickal, a decorated collegiate wrestler, emphasized that the event, despite its potential for spectacle, was a professional competition, not a "fun, charity match," and adherence to contractual obligations, particularly weight, was paramount.
The incident unfolded on Saturday morning in Florida, leading to one of the most talked-about non-events in recent combat sports memory. Nickal, a three-time NCAA Division I National Champion and U23 World Champion, was set to face Romero, a 2000 Olympic silver medalist and veteran of both UFC and Bellator, in a featured grappling match. This cross-disciplinary encounter had generated considerable buzz, pitting two elite athletes with contrasting styles and considerable fan bases against each other.
According to Nickal, who spoke exclusively to Ariel Helwani on Monday, the situation became clear during the official weigh-ins. "It was tough," Nickal recounted. "It was a tough situation. I got there in Florida, had all my family and friends down, and was looking forward to competing." Nickal himself successfully made weight, arriving at the scale at approximately 9 a.m. and registering 205 pounds after hydrating from an initial 203 pounds. His opponent, however, presented a different scenario.
"I waited around 45 minutes for Yoel to get there, and he waited a while," Nickal explained. "So once he didn’t step on the scale right away, I kind of knew he was over. I expected two, three, four pounds, and no worries. We’ll get it going. But he stepped on at 212." This seven-pound discrepancy from the contracted 205-pound limit proved to be the critical factor in Nickal’s decision. For context, a seven-pound miss in a 205-pound division is considered substantial in professional combat sports, often leading to cancellations or significant financial penalties. In many athletic commissions, a miss of this magnitude can disqualify a fighter outright, or at least necessitate a substantial re-negotiation with the opponent.
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Nickal articulated that his refusal stemmed from a deep-seated respect for the sport of wrestling and the professionalism expected at such an event. "Seven pounds over. This is a tough situation," he stated. "I obviously want to compete, but I spoke with my coaches, my team, and we felt that it was best to move on from that, just because part of wrestling is making weight. That’s something you grow up doing, and it’s just part of the sport." He drew a clear distinction between the culture of traditional wrestling and the more lenient approach sometimes seen in professional mixed martial arts (MMA). "Any other tournament, it’s not like, ‘Oh, you don’t make weight? You still get to compete.’ It’s not part of the sport as it is in MMA. It’s very common in MMA, but as a wrestler, I wanted to have respect for the sport."
Romero, known throughout his MMA career for his formidable physique and explosive power, has historically had challenges making weight for the middleweight division (185 lbs), occasionally competing at light heavyweight (205 lbs) where he still sometimes struggles. His wrestling background, culminating in an Olympic silver medal at 85 kg (approximately 187 lbs) in 2000, suggests a lifetime of disciplined weight management. However, his transition to MMA, particularly in later career stages, has seen him contend with the rigorous demands of cutting weight. Nickal pointed to this, noting, "Also, just feeling like him coming down from 225-230, me at 205, I’m just like, I felt like I signed a contract at this weight, that’s what I expect to do. If he was two, three, four pounds over, we could probably make it work. But that was just a lot to accept. So as a team, we felt like it was best to not take the match."
The decision by Nickal to withdraw did not come without scrutiny. Following Romero’s weight miss, the Cuban Olympic medalist instead faced 2025 NCAA champion Stephen Buchanan, losing by tech fall. Nickal’s complete withdrawal from the RAF 5 event, however, drew criticism from some corners of the combat sports community. Notably, fellow UFC fighter Colby Covington publicly derided Nickal, labeling him a "quitter" for not accepting the match despite Romero’s weight discrepancy. This sentiment resonated with a segment of fans who prioritize entertainment and "the show must go on" mentality, even at the expense of contractual integrity.
However, Nickal remains unperturbed by such critiques, attributing them to a lack of understanding of high-level competition. "Most people that say that have never competed at a high level in their life, or competed in general," Nickal asserted. He highlighted the stark contrast in reactions from his peers within the wrestling community. "The response from every single one of my peers in wrestling, they were shocked, and they were shocked I was even considering taking it, because it did take me a couple hours to figure it out. Every single person I talked to, coaches, teammates, they were like, ‘Man, this is part of the sport. You don’t make weight, you don’t wrestle.’"
The difference in perspective underscores a fundamental divide between the traditional amateur wrestling ethos and certain aspects of professional combat sports. In amateur wrestling, missing weight typically means disqualification from the tournament, emphasizing fairness and discipline above all else. In professional MMA, while penalties exist, fights are often allowed to proceed with catchweights or purse deductions, sometimes blurring the lines of competitive integrity for the sake of broadcast or event continuity. Nickal, still relatively new to the professional MMA landscape with a 5-0 record, appears to be firmly rooted in his wrestling principles.
"It was hard for me, because, obviously, I’m a competitor. I spent a lot of time prepping, getting ready, I had a ton of people down there. It was difficult," Nickal acknowledged, recognizing the personal investment and fan expectation. "But I think anybody that’s competed at a high level, that has respect for their sport, they all understood where I was coming from." He concluded with a definitive statement on the nature of the event: "People want to see me compete, which, I do too, but they don’t understand what it’s like to be in that position. This is not fun and games. This is not a charity match. This is a professional sporting event. I came in professional, and unfortunately, he didn’t. It is what it is. I was ready to wrestle. If he made the weight, we’re going, obviously. So that’s not on me."
Despite the cancellation, Bo Nickal retains his RAF light heavyweight champion status. Yoel Romero, despite his loss to Buchanan, remains a prominent figure within the RAF promotion due to his storied career and name recognition. This has naturally led to speculation regarding a potential future rescheduling of the Nickal-Romero bout. However, Nickal appears hesitant about the prospect.
"I think I’m done, just because I don’t think he can make the weight," Nickal stated, addressing the feasibility of a future matchup at 205 pounds. Nickal typically competes at 185 pounds in the UFC and was already making a concession by moving up to 205 pounds for the grappling match. "I’m an ’85er, I’m coming up to 205. I’ve got to go up another seven pounds? I’m already giving concessions to try and make it happen. To me, I think that he should just compete at heavyweight, and that’s fine. We’re different weight classes. It’s no big deal."
Instead of a competitive rematch, Nickal expressed a desire for a different kind of interaction with the "Soldier of God." "I would love to train with the guy, I’d love to get some work in, but this is professional sports. It’s not just a fun, charity match." This sentiment reinforces his unwavering stance on the professionalism and adherence to rules that he believes should govern such high-stakes athletic endeavors. The incident at RAF 5 serves as a stark reminder of the often-overlooked yet critical element of weight management in combat sports and the differing philosophies that can arise when contractual obligations are not met.
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