Penn State wrestling legend Bo Nickal is slated to make his UFC pay-per-view debut at UFC 285 against Jamie Pickett on March 4.

Nickal, a four-time All-American and three-time national champion wrestler for the Nittany Lions, entered the world of MMA last year and participated in the Dana White Contender Series.

Nickal went 2-0 in the promotion, with both wins coming by submission in the first round. The Nittany Lion was first supposed to debut at UFC 282 against Jamie Pickett in December, however, was forced to withdraw due to an apparent injury.

The 34-year-old Pickett sports a 12-8 professional record and comes into the bout on a two-match losing skid. Pickett also poses a power threat to Nickal, as he has won eight of his 12 matches by KO or TKO. However, it’s worth mentioning that Pickett has lost via submission in three of his eight defeats, which could bode well for Nickal and his grappling strengths.

The fight will be available through ESPN+ by pay-per-view purchase only. Nickal will face Pickett in the first fight on the main card beginning at 10 p.m.

About the Author

Brendan Wagner

Brendan is a senior majoring in print and media journalism. Born in Pittsburgh, he now lives in Mooresville, North Carolina. As a die-hard Pittsburgh sports fan, you can find him on Twitter, @brchwags, often complaining about the Pittsburgh Steelers and whoever their quarterback is, I'm scared.

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