Bo Nickal’s journey from dominating the wrestling mats as certainly one of Penn State’s most interesting to creating waves in MMA has been fairly the trip. A 3-time NCAA Division I nationwide champion and three-time Large Ten Convention champion at Penn State, Bo has transitioned right into a UFC standout since his debut in 2022. He boasts an impeccable report, with two wins by KO/TKO and 4 by submission. His newest victory over Cody Brundage at UFC 300 on April 13, 2024, was a second-round submission, breaking his streak of ending all earlier fights within the first spherical. One notable admirer of his expertise?
The previous President of the USA, Donald Trump, whose frequent ardour for fight sports activities has struck up an intriguing friendship with Nickal. After Trump’s notable shoutout to the completed Nittany Lion, Bo shared insights into their friendship and lauded Trump’s humility.
Bo Nickal opens up about his bond with former POTUS Donald Trump
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On his YouTube podcast, Nickals and Dimes, Bo Nickal was requested by Ronan Bell and Anthony Cassar about his response to former POTUS Donald Trump’s shout-out to him on Logan Paul’s podcast. Bo shared, “That was sick. It’s my dog. What do you expect? It’s my dog.” He continued, “It’s like what you do with your boy. Like, I hype him up; he hypes me up.” Bo went on to disclose that he and Trump typically exchanged messages and hit the golf course collectively. He additionally acknowledged how, regardless of media portrayals, he considered Trump’s character as real.
The wrestling star turned fighter went on to explain Trump as extremely smart and astounded by his sharpness, particularly given his age in his late 70s. Bo discovered Trump to be extremely personable and charismatic, exhibiting a deep curiosity in fight sports activities like wrestling and boxing. He stated, “He’s, like, super up on the sport, which I think is just such a cool thing for literally… Like, how does he have time for that?”
Noting Trump’s down-to-earth nature regardless of his international fame, Bo Nickal shared, “He’s super down to earth. Considering out of the 8 billion people in the world right now, he’s the most famous, like, incredibly down to earth, considering that. “ He described moments when Trump would chat with him, discussing various topics ranging from sports to business in a casual and friendly manner. Bo highlighted Trump’s kindness and approachability, noting how Trump would also extend this demeanor to others despite his position.
In a full-circle moment, he also recalled their first meeting at the White House in 2019 after his NCAA wrestling team’s victory. Trump went out of his way to make the visit special, presenting them with hats, mugs, and other memorabilia and taking the time to pose for pictures with the team. This bond was further strengthened when they met again in Bedminster the following summer. The NCAA champion was impressed by Trump’s ability to remember their previous conversations.
He recalled a conversation from 2019 when he mentioned to Trump his ambition to transition from wrestling to fighting in MMA. Trump surprised Bo by recalling this conversation during their meeting in Bedminster, shortly after Bo’s UFC fight at 285. He shared, “When I went and met up with him in Bedminster last summer, he was like, ‘Yeah, it’s crazy. You know, in 2019, you told me you were going to be a fighter and, uh, here we are.’ “ Reflecting on Bo Nickals’ remarks, let’s revisit the former POTUS’s acknowledgment of Bo Nickal.
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Donald Trump’s shout-out to Bo Nickal with Logan Paul
Donald Trump has been a familiar face at several UFC events in recent years, consistently greeted with enthusiasm by fighters and fans alike as he enters the arena. Trump also expressed gratitude for the warm reception he receives at UFC events, finding it flattering. During his appearance on Logan Paul’s podcast ‘IMPAULSIVE,’ the former U.S. President discussed hosting collegiate champions at the White House, a tradition he values.
He singled out Bo Nickal as a wrestler who’s got what it takes for the UFC, pointing out Bo’s different mindset compared to other wrestlers trying MMA sharing, “A lot of wrestlers…they want to do the UFC thing but they can’t take the shots cause, you know, they’re wrestlers. I’ve been with a lot of them…There’s somebody named Bo Nickal, who I think is gonna be great. He’s a [UFC] fighter. He was an All-American…He went to Penn State and he’s phenomenal as a fighter. You’ll be watching him. But he doesn’t mind it if he gets hit. Some people don’t want that.”
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Trying again on these phrases and the bond between Donald Trump and Bo Nickal, it’s clear they’ve obtained an actual friendship going again to Bo’s NCAA wrestling days. Their shared love for fight sports activities and mutual respect transcend politics, exhibiting how sports activities can convey folks collectively in sudden methods. What are your ideas on this friendship? Share within the feedback beneath!