Bo Nickal Exposes Biggest Secret About UFC Fighters

Ahead of UFC 322, middleweight star Bo Nickal talks about the only thing that MMA fighters often lie about.

Bo Nickal Exposes Biggest Secret About UFC Fighters

Bo Nickal talks about fighters hiding their weight (Image via X)

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UFC fighters as some of the most outspoken athletes in combat sports, yet their boldness sometimes hides unspoken secrets. The organization’s freedom to speak openly allows fighters to express themselves, often leading to headlines and controversies. However, one particular issue reportedly scares many competitors to address publicly, and middleweight star Bo Nickal has recently shed light on that.

Bo Nickal is scheduled to battle Rodolfo Vieira at UFC 322 this Saturday at the Madison Square Garden arena in a preliminary matchup. Ahead of the three-round fight, he spent time giving interviews where reporters asked numerous questions about his preparations. In a viral moment, the American frankly discussed the only subject most UFC fighters reportedly lie about whenever speaking publicly.

The biggest lie fighters tell is what they weigh. Some guys say they’re heavier, some guys say they’re lighter, but it’s never accurate.

Bo Nikal via his YouTube Channel

UFC fighters often lie about their weight because revealing true numbers can expose strategic weaknesses before competitive fights. Maintaining secrecy allows fighters to manipulate perceptions regarding size and strength advantages that influence pre-fight analysis from opponents significantly.

Many athletes also hide their real weight to avoid unnecessary criticism from fans who judge conditioning without understanding extreme weight-cutting demands. Weight cutting has long served as a strategic tool allowing heavier fighters to exploit size advantages against naturally smaller opponents.

UFC commentator Joe Rogan argued that extreme weight cutting effectively acts as ‘sanctioned cheating’ across competitive MMA. Superstars like Khabib Nurmagomedov often faced criticism for walking significantly heavier than their contracted divisions, prompting ongoing debates about fairness.

Similarly, Islam Makhachev and Alex Pereira are frequently labelled weight bullies because they reportedly competed far below their natural frames at one point in time. However, weight cutting is often considered the hardest part of fight camp because it demands extreme physical suffering.

Many fighters warn that severe weight cuts can cause dangerous health consequences, including dehydration, organ stress, and long-term damage. Lying about weight additionally protects mental confidence, preventing self-doubt triggered by comparisons with larger rivals possessing intimidating physical frames. Meanwhile, Bo Nickal fights at middleweight, which is very close to his natural weight. 

Bo Nickal speaks on fighting on the preliminary card of UFC 322

Bo Nickal entered the UFC with a fanbase because his dominant wrestling career had already made him an American prospect. Following his early victories, the confident newcomer boldly claimed he could defeat elite contenders and eventually secure the UFC championship. Because of his rising popularity, the UFC promoted him aggressively by placing him on major main cards at high-profile pay-per-view events.

Bo Nickal is ready to bounce back at UFC 322
Bo Nickal is ready to bounce back at UFC 322 (via X)

Many fans and analysts openly criticized the organization for favoring Nickal over established superstars who had earned bigger opportunities. After his disappointing loss to Reinier de Ridder, Nickal’s momentum faded temporarily, causing his hype to cool across the MMA community.

This setback resulted in the promotion moving him to the UFC 322 preliminary card, rather than granting him another main card slot. In a recent interview, the decorated college wrestler addressed the criticism and shared his mindset ahead of UFC 322. 

I made an arrogant comment on Ariel Helwani saying of course I’d be on the main card. A lot of people have given me a lot of flack for that, so finally your guys wishes are fulfilled, I’m headlining the prelims.

Bo Nickal via UFC 322 Media Day 

Bo Nickal frequently criticized the dominant Dagestani wrestling of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev while boldly challenging Chechen superstar Khamzat Chimaev. However, his confidence was brutally shut down after Chimaev captured the middleweight title and firmly established himself as an unstoppable force.

Nickal is now focused on rebuilding momentum and earning a legitimate path back toward the top of the division. However, one more loss could further derail his hype-train, and result in more trolling from the MMA community. As such, a victory against Vieira remains vital for Nickal ahead of UFC 322.

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