Bo Nickal stopped Kyle Daukaus in the first round of their much-anticipated fight on the White House lawn.
The middleweight, who’d last fought in November when he returned from his first career defeat to knock out Rodolfo Vieira, was already being urged to push for a title shot.
Meanwhile, Daukaus came into the contest on a six-fight winning streak and looked like a real threat.
It was one of just two all-American matchups on the card, along with Josh Hokit versus Derrick Lewis. And it didn’t disappoint, with Nickal delivering an impressive finish before the end of round one.
Bo Nickal gets a quick win over Kyle Daukaus in UFC White House clash
Bo Nickal wasted no time showing why he’s considered one of the best wrestlers in the sport, putting Kyle Daukaus on his back just 35 seconds into their fight. From there, Nickal controlled the action, leaving Daukaus with little choice but to defend from his back.
Referee Jason Herzog eventually stood them up, and that’s when Nickal finished the job. He landed a huge right hand that floored Daukaus before following up with ground and pound to secure the first-round stoppage.
After likely securing a spot in the middleweight rankings, Nickal climbed over the octagon to shake hands with President Donald Trump. He later thanked Trump and UFC CEO Dana White for including him on such a high-profile card.
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