Bo Nickal has a simple message for critics questioning his decision at Real American Freestyle 5: they do not understand the sport.
Nickal was scheduled to face former Olympic silver medalist Yoel Romero last weekend in one of the most anticipated bouts on the RAF 5 card. The matchup fell apart on Saturday morning when Romero missed weight by a staggering seven pounds, weighing in at 212 pounds for a contracted 205-pound contest. Following the miss, Nickal declined to compete.
On Monday, the UFC middleweight contender addressed the situation while speaking with Ariel Helwani, explaining why walking away was the only option.
“It was tough,” Nickal said. “It was a tough situation. I got there in Florida, had all my family and friends down, and was looking forward to competing. Saturday morning at weigh-ins, I weighed in right at 9 a.m. I woke up around 203, ate and drank to get up to 205, waited around 45 minutes for Yoel to get there, and 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,” he said. “But he stepped on at 212. Seven pounds over. That’s a tough situation.”
After consulting with his coaches and team, Bo Nickal decided not to proceed, emphasizing that weight management is a core part of wrestling culture.
“Part of wrestling is making weight,” Nickal said. “That’s something you grow up doing. Any other tournament, it’s not like, ‘Oh, you don’t make weight? You still get to compete.’ That’s not how it works. It’s common in MMA, but as a wrestler, I wanted to have respect for the sport.”
“Him coming down from 225 to 230, me at 205, I felt like I signed a contract at this weight,” he said. “If he was two, three, four pounds over, we could probably make it work. Seven pounds was just a lot to accept. As a team, we felt it was best not to take the match.”
Romero went on to face 2025 NCAA champion Stephen Buchanan, losing by technical fall, while Nickal withdrew from the event entirely. The decision sparked backlash from fans and fellow athletes, but Bo Nickal dismissed the criticism outright.
“Most people saying that have never competed at a high level in their life,” Nickal said. “Every single one of my peers in wrestling were shocked and shocked I was even considering taking it.”
Nickal admitted the decision weighed heavily on him, given the preparation and support surrounding the event.
“It was hard,” he said. “I’m a competitor. I spent a lot of time prepping. I had a ton of people there. But anyone who’s competed at a high level and respects their sport understood where I was coming from.”
“People want to see me compete, and I do too,” Nickal said. “But 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. If he made the weight, we’re going. That’s not on me.”
Despite the controversy, Bo Nickal remains the RAF light heavyweight champion, and Romero continues to carry star power within the promotion. While some have speculated about a future matchup, Nickal does not see it happening.
“I think I’m done, just because I don’t think he can make the weight,” Nickal said. “I’m an ’85er coming up to 205. I’m already giving concessions. He should probably compete at heavyweight, and that’s fine. We’re different weight classes.”
“I’d love to train with the guy and get some work in,” he said. “But this is professional sports. It’s not just a fun charity match.”
For Bo Nickal, the stance is clear: respect the contract, respect the sport, or do not step on the mat.
