This is the UFC 322 live blog for Bo Nickal vs. Rodolfo Vieira, the featured preliminary middleweight bout Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York.
One of the most decorated collegiate wrestlers of all time, Nickal (7-1) suffered his first MMA loss this past May when he was knocked out in the second round by top middleweight contender Reinier de Ridder. Prior to that setback, Nickal was 4-0 in the UFC with three finishes. The three-time Division-I NCAA wrestling champion now looks to prove that he’s only more dangerous after suffering a setback.
Vieira (11-3) is a legend in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu world, and he’s parlayed his skills into six wins in nine UFC appearances. “The Black Belt Hunter” has won three of his past four fights and an upset win over a blue-chip prospect like Nickal could make him a sleeper in the middleweight division.
Check out the UFC 322 live blog for Bo Nickal vs. Rodolfo Vieira below.
It’s Bo Nickal time! He’s not on the main card, but there’s no question his fights continue to be a big deal. He might have been pushed a tad too quickly up the ranks, so Rodolfo Vieira feels like the right kind of recalibration. Let’s see how it goes.
Still a lot of public confidence in Nickal as he is a -245 favorite according to FanDuel. Vieira a 2-to-1 underdog.
Referee Dan Miragliotta oversees the featured prelim.
Front kick from Nickal to open things up. They clash and Nickal immediately takes the back and takes Vieira for a ride. He immediately starts throwing punches, Vieira blocking a lot of these. Knees from Nickal keep Vieira on the defensive. Vieira fighting the hands, he reverses position and wrestles Nickal against the fence. They break apart with three minutes left in the round. Nickal with a lunging left. Vieira ducks a kick and goes for a takedown, Nickal quick to get up. Nickal uses a choke attempt to get into top position. Vieira back to the feet. Good elbow from Bo off the break.
Vieira with a couple of leg kicks. Nickal fires in a straight left. He’s sticking with that strike and it’s paying off. Nickal not forcing the action, hanging around on the outside. Glancing left from Nickal. Vieira unable to get past Nickal’s range striking. Nickal sneaks a right hand in. Great first round for Nickal.
MMA Fighting sores the round 10-9, Nickal.
Vieira opens with a jab, he doesn’t want to give up ground this time. Uppercut from Vieira scores, he’s busy in there, that’s for sure. Nickal with a hard kick to the body. They’re trading leg kicks now as they load up for bigger attacks. Nickal lands a left body punch. He wants to go high with that left, but Vieira is keeping good distance. Nice combination from Nickal to score. He’s digging that jab in as Vieira’s face continues to bleed from an elbow in Round 1.
Standing elbow from Nickal, Vieira counters with a takedown attempt. He takes Nickal to the fence and it’s underhook time. Nickal with another left. Good counter right from Nickal as he circles out. Vieira fires one in to the body, Nickal gets him back. Nickal lands a hard left and Vieira felt that. Late takedown attempt by Vieira, easily stuffed. Nickal works in a few punches before the round ends.
MMA Fighting sores the round 10-9, Nickal. Overall, 20-18 Nickal.
Nickal looks confident with that jab. Straight left scores for Nickal, he’s landing all the effective offense on the feet. Crowd growing restless as there isn’t much action at the moment outside of Nickal backing Vieira up with his jab. It’s not exciting, but Nickal is ahead and doesn’t look interested in taking a risk here.
Wait, never mind, he just landed a head kick out of nowhere and Vieira is out cold. That wasn’t bad.
Official result: Bo Nickal def. Rodolfo Vieira via KO (head kick) – Round 3, 2:24
Nickal says he learned a lot from his loss to RDR and that he loves fighting.
He also has a message for the fans that turned on him:
“We’re on ESPN so I can’t curse, but frick you motherfrickers for booing me and then cheering me. Pick one!”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, I love it. As long as you guys are cheering or booing, I don’t care, you watched, and I had fun.”
