Whether you like it or not, Bo Nickal kicks off the UFC 300 main card.
While still green in MMA, the credentialed wrestler has beaten everybody the UFC has put in front of him. Nickal (5-0) puts his undefeated record on the line again when he takes on UFC veteran Cody Brundage (10-5), arguably his toughest test to date.
Factory X’s Brundage is coming off back-to-back wins over Zach Reese and Jacob Malkoun. Even so, Brundage enters the fight as a gigantic betting underdog at +850 in contrast to Nickal’s favorite status at -1600.
Middle Easy covers the middleweight matchup live from the ground at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Round 1:
Brundage opens up with a flying kick and then a knee that miss. Nickal clips Brundage with a right hand. The middleweights scramble in the center of the Octagon. Nickal goes right to work, getting into the clinch with Brundage up against the cage. Nickal goes for a takedown but isn’t able to keep Brundage on the ground for long. Nickal keeps at it, finally getting Brundage to the ground for more than a few seconds.
Nickal seizes Brundage’s back and looks for a rear-naked choke. Brundage defends well but finds himself in bottom position against the highly-touted wrestler. Nickal lands bombs from top position. Nickal controls Brundage from behind. Brundage jokingly punches himself in the face in this stalemate position, drawing laughs from the packed crowd. Round ends with more inactivity.
Christopher De Santiago scores the round: 10-9 Nickal
Round 2:
The referee pauses the action to throw something out of the cage. Nickal shoots for a takedown but the defending Brundage tosses him aside. Nickal does get the takedown on his second try, landing a few shots from top. Nickal, again, doesn’t do much with this control.
Nickal lands a few punches before grabbing ahold of Brundage’s back. Nickal hunts for a rear-naked choke and eventually finds the submission he was looking for, getting the tap from Brundage.
Official result: Bo Nickal defeats Cody Brundage via submission (rear-naked choke) in round 2 (3:38)
Check out the highlights below:
Another one bites the dust 😮💨@NoBickal finishes this one with a submission in round 2! #UFC300 pic.twitter.com/BR3ocjyOHc
— UFC (@ufc) April 14, 2024
Another W for rising star @NoBickal 🔥 #UFC300 pic.twitter.com/h5Cvkwj18e
— UFC (@ufc) April 14, 2024
