Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington has downplayed the possibility of facing Bo Nickal in Real American Freestyle (RAF), insisting the decorated wrestler has yet to prove himself as a legitimate draw.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Covington addressed renewed speculation surrounding a potential matchup with Nickal. He said:
“Bo Nickal has never been a main event. He’s not a draw. He doesn’t sell tickets, and he hasn’t beaten any world beaters.”
The rivalry between the two has been brewing for quite some time. Nickal previously called for a fight against ‘Chaos‘ during their time under the UFC banner, with both men frequently exchanging verbal shots. Covington himself had expressed interest in facing Nickal at the proposed UFC White House event before ultimately stepping away from the promotion.
Instead, Covington retired from the UFC and transitioned into a full-time RAF career, where he quickly found success.
Colby Covington insists Nickal must come down in weight
At RAF 11, Covington captured the RAF Crossover Cruiserweight Championship with a high-profile victory over the No.1-ranked UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan. The win solidified his status as one of the promotion’s biggest stars.
Despite his confidence, Covington made it clear that he has no intention of moving up in weight to accommodate Nickal.
“We’re not in the same weight class. If he wants to come down to 170 or 175, yeah, we could do it for sure.”
The 38-year-old also reiterated his belief that he would comfortably defeat the former NCAA wrestling champion:
“I’ll end that guy any day, but I’m not going up to your weight class to compensate for you being the bigger guy. It’s not going to happen. I’m the champ. I call the shots, and frankly, he’s not a good business dance partner.”
Check out Colby Covington’s comments about Bo Nickal below:
Nickal, meanwhile, remains one of the most accomplished wrestlers in combat sports, boasting three NCAA Division I national titles and an impressive MMA record.
However, Covington believes Nickal still lacks elite wins and commercial appeal compared to other major RAF stars.
For now, a clash between the two decorated wrestlers appears unlikely unless Nickal agrees to meet Covington’s weight demands. Nevertheless, given their long-standing rivalry and shared wrestling pedigree, the matchup remains one of the most intriguing possibilities in the RAF landscape.
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