What happens when one a former NCAA phenom casually locks horns with the reigning heavyweight champion? Before UFC 309 crowned Jon Jones with yet another title defense and probably his last fight and Bo Nickal extended his unbeaten streak, the two found themselves in an unexpected grappling showdown in the weight room!

While Jon Jones has made a name for himself as one of the greatest fighters, known for his striking ability, Bo Nickal comes from an accomplished amateur wrestling background, having held 3 NCAA titles and has successfully transitioned to UFC. Even though it’s unlikely we will get to see them compete against each other, we did get to see them in a spur-of-the-moment sparring session.

Ahead of UFC 309, Jones and Nickal caught up with each other at the UFC Performance Institute and soon had a mini-wrestling session that intensified. Nickal revealed the details of what went down and how he had to hold back a little against the heavyweight champion.

Speaking on the Overdogs Podcast with Mike Perry, the Penn State alum painted a vivid picture of the clash of giants. “I see Jon in the weight room. I’m like, ‘What’s up,’ but I’ve never met him, and we started grappling around, moving around. He’s freaking huge. He goes full 100% tries to foot sweep me, and I’m like, ‘What’s going on?” Nickal laughed, highlighting the champion’s competitive nature. But despite the opportunity to assert himself, Nickal decided to go easy.

“I don’t fall but then I’m like I’m not going to take you down in front of 50 people like in the middle of the makeup room. I just started kind of moving a little bit. I was just Like fake, fake, fake and I was like, ‘You’re done. I got you. You’re too slow.’ I gotta let you know that you’re not gonna really like do anything to me in wrestling,” he quipped, subtly hinting at his dominance on the mat when it comes to grappling.

Apart from the 3 NCAA titles to his name, Nickal has a stunning college wrestling record of 120 wins and just 3 losses. He also won the Hodge Trophy – a yearly award given to the nation’s best college wrestler in 2019 and won the U23 World Championships (2019) in freestyle. During his stint with the Nittany Lions, he helped the program win four team titles.

Nickal was a three-time Texas high school state champion for Allen High School, compiling a 183-7 record with 131 of those victories coming by fall. There is little doubt as to why he is seen as one of the most talented wrestlers of his generation. Not to mention his MMA record of 7-0 has further enhanced his reputation.

When it comes to pure wrestling, it is true very few could better Bo Nickal and this was also evident in his UFC 309 win over Paul Craig, albeit in flashes. But we are talking about Jon Jones here. Yes, his game is more physical and based on heavy strikes, but let’s not forget he is very adaptable and also has a strong wrestling background.

He wrestled in high school and won an NCAA championship in 2006. He was also recognized as an All-American wrestler that year. Jones has also taken down some accomplished wrestlers during his time in UFC, notably being the first man to take Cormier down, doing it three times in their first fight.

Meanwhile, what is next for Jones after his resounding win over Stipe Miocic once again asserted his undisputed status?

Did Jon Jones grapple his way to retirement?

Jon Jones’ heavyweight victory at UFC 309 may have sealed his legacy, but it also opened the door to some tough questions. Stipe Miocic hadn’t fought since 2021, raising doubts about the competitiveness of the matchup. Many fans had hoped for a bout against the interim titleholder Tom Aspinall, but Jones and the UFC are to still decide on that.

Now, with retirement looming, Jones seems to be weighing his options. Reflecting on his career, Jones told The Schmo, “So right now the UFC and I, we’re in negotiations to see what happens next…Yes, I will be competing in 2025, more than likely.”

But here’s the real question, can Jon Jones hold up against younger talents like Aspinall? The British heavyweight phenom, who has also entered negotiations for a 2025 date, seems poised to take on the aging champion. And moments like his grappling encounter with Nickal could be a hint of what’s to come, a new generation ready to challenge the old guard.

For Nickal, the grappling session was likely just a glimpse of his potential. At 7-0 and steadily climbing the ranks, he represents the UFC’s future, which may soon be tested against his own division legends like Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya. What do you think? Will Jones fight one more time in 2025 to silence doubters, or will he step away from the octagon before risking his legacy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!