Bo Nickal to Face Olympic Gold Medalist Shirvani Muradov in Moscow

Rising UFCCompetition·UFC middleweight contender Bo NickalPlayer·Bo Nickal will return to his wrestling roots for a high-profile encounter against Olympic gold medalist Shirvani MuradovPlayer·Shirvani Muradov at the Real American FreestyleCompetition·Real American Freestyle (RAF) event in MoscowVenue·Moscow on September 5. The announcement, made by the RAF organization on Tuesday, sets the stage for a compelling clash between two athletes with distinguished wrestling pedigrees.

For Bo NickalPlayer·Bo Nickal, this match represents another step in his active 2025/26 wrestling schedule. The 27-year-old, who holds a 6-1 record in the UFCCompetition·UFC, recently secured a first-round knockout victory over Kyle DaukusPlayer·Kyle Daukus at UFC White HouseCompetition·UFC White House on June 14, 2026. Before transitioning to mixed martial arts, Nickal established himself as one of the most decorated collegiate wrestlers in the United States, earning three consecutive NCAA Division I championships and the prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy. His return to freestyle wrestling under the RAF banner began in August 2025 with a victory over Jacob CardenasPlayer·Jacob Cardenas at the organization's inaugural event. While a planned bout against MMA veteran Yoel RomeroPlayer·Yoel Romero did not materialize earlier this year, Nickal is also scheduled to face 2026 U.S. collegiate champion Max McKenleyPlayer·Max McKenley at RAF 12 on August 22, prior to his showdown with Muradov.

Shirvani MuradovPlayer·Shirvani Muradov, a 41-year-old Russian freestyle wrestler, brings an impressive resume to his RAF debut. He is a gold medalist from the 2008 Olympic GamesCompetition·Olympic Games, where he triumphed in the 96 kg category. This contest will be Muradov's first appearance with the Real American FreestyleCompetition·Real American Freestyle promotion, adding an intriguing layer to the MoscowVenue·Moscow card.

This matchup is considered a substantial challenge for Nickal, pitting his elite collegiate wrestling background against the proven international experience of an Olympic champion. It also underscores RAF's strategic approach to feature established names from both the MMA and wrestling worlds. Nickal has previously expressed a desire to compete against top-tier wrestlers, having issued a challenge to two-time Olympic gold medalist Abdulrashid SadulaevPlayer·Abdulrashid Sadulaev in January 2026.

The RAF: MoscowVenue·Moscow event on September 5 will be headlined by a highly anticipated bout between Khamzat ChimaevPlayer·Khamzat Chimaev and Tyron WoodleyPlayer·Tyron Woodley. The Nickal-Muradov wrestling match will be broadcast live on Fox NationCompetition·Fox Nation in the United States, with further international broadcast details expected to be announced.