Real American Freestyle has officially locked in Bo Nickal’s next assignment, with the former UFC standout set to take on reigning 2026 NCAA champion Max McEnelly in a light heavyweight showdown.
Fresh off a first-round knockout of Kyle Daukaus at UFC Freedom 250 earlier this month, Nickal is wasting no time returning to competition. Rather than taking a break after his latest MMA victory, he is stepping back onto the wrestling mat for another high-profile challenge.
Nickal is no stranger to RAF competition. The three-time NCAA Division I national champion appeared at the promotion’s inaugural event in 2025, where he earned a victory over Jacob Cardenas. Now, more than a year later, he returns to the organization looking to add another win to his wrestling résumé against one of the sport’s brightest young stars.
The event will take place at RAF 12 on Aug. 22, 2026, inside Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
A planned clash with Yoel Romero late in 2025 never happened after Nickal withdrew. A rescheduled meeting in January 2026 also fell apart when Romero missed weight, leading Nickal to step away from the matchup.
McEnelly brings championship momentum
McEnelly enters the matchup with an impressive résumé of his own. The Minnesota native captured four state titles at Waconia High School before making his mark on the international stage, winning gold at the U20 World Championships. He further cemented his status as one of wrestling’s top young talents by claiming the 2026 NCAA national championship.
Nickal and McEnelly will be part of a stacked RAF 12 lineup that continues to generate buzz across the wrestling world.
The event is also expected to feature Olympic gold medalist and wrestling icon Jordan Burroughs, although promotion officials have yet to reveal who will stand across from him on fight night. The card will also feature a matchup between Tyron Woodley and Joaquin Buckley.
RAF continued its lead-up to the event with RAF Georgia on July 11 and RAF 11 in Milwaukee on July 18.