Highly touted middleweight prospect Bo Nickal faces a last-minute opponent change at UFC 290. Get the latest updates on this exciting match-up and the fighters involved.
| Key Points |
|---|
| Bo Nickal faces last-minute opponent change at UFC 290 |
| Tresean Gore pulls out due to wrist injury |
| Val Woodburn steps in as replacement |
| Woodburn brings undefeated record and experience |
| Nickal remains the favorite, but Woodburn could pose a challenge |
Highly touted middleweight prospect Bo Nickal is currently gearing up for his sophomore outing inside the UFC Octagon, but fight week hasn’t exactly gone smoothly…
The three-time NCAA Division I National Champion champion out of Pennsylvania State University was originally booked to open the UFC 290 pay-per-view main card opposite former TUF competitor Tresean Gore.
On Tuesday, however, "Mr. Vicious" pulled out from the International Fight Week event, citing a wrist injury as the reason behind his withdrawal.
With the UFC’s video team following the biggest names set to compete this weekend in Las Vegas, Nickal’s reaction to the news was captured and released in episode three of the UFC 290 Embedded: Vlog Series.
Nickal can be seen breaking down on the mats inside the UFC Performance Institute while on the phone to the individual tasked with alerting him of the fight cancellation.
"No! No, are you kidding me?" Nickal said "(expletive) Yeah, no, I get it. We’re on the same page. Okay, just text me the names. I’m just working out right now. Text me the names and I’ll think about it and get back to you… He pulled out. We just found out that my opponent pulled out… We’re gonna figure out what we’re gonna do. As of now, we don’t have a fight, we don’t have an opponent."
Fortunately for Nickal, who earned a UFC contract with two first-round submissions on Dana White’s Contender Series last year, it didn’t take long for a new target to be placed in his crosshairs.
Although established middleweights like Caio Borralho and Chris Curtis appeared willing to fill in for Gore at UFC 290, the replacement spot ultimately went to former Combat Night Pro middleweight champion Val Woodburn.
Like Nickal, "The Animal" is undefeated in professional MMA, but the newcomer will have the experience edge.
Woodburn boasts a 7-0 record, featuring five knockouts. He was originally booked to appear on DWCS later this summer, but will now have an opportunity to make an immediate impact inside the Octagon.
While the oddsmakers are giving the debutant little chance of pulling off an upset, with Nickal expected to break the UFC record as the biggest favorite in promotional history at close, Woodburn has been backed by teammate Curtis, who has predicted "The Animal to give the wrestling ace trouble.
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Conclusion
In a turn of events, highly touted middleweight prospect Bo Nickal faced a last-minute opponent change at UFC 290. Originally scheduled to face Tresean Gore, Nickal’s opponent pulled out due to a wrist injury. However, Val Woodburn stepped in as a replacement, bringing his undefeated record and experience to the Octagon. While Nickal is still the favorite, Woodburn has the potential to give him trouble. The fight promises to be an exciting one, showcasing the resilience and adaptability of these fighters.
| Fighters | Result |
|---|---|
| Bo Nickal vs. Tresean Gore | Cancelled |
| Bo Nickal vs. Val Woodburn | Upcoming |
