Bo Nickal isn’t just another name in the wrestling world; he’s a living legend. A three-time NCAA Division I national champion and a proud Penn State Nittany Lion, Bo has made his mark as one of the finest collegiate wrestlers ever. He’s transitioned into MMA with the same dominance, keeping his record spotless at 6-0-0. His latest win at UFC 300, where he submitted Cody Brundage in the second round, only adds fuel to the fire that a title shot is in his near future. Recently, though, Bo’s comments stirred the pot a bit, particularly among fans with his hot takes.

First, he claimed that Islam Makhachev, despite his MMA prowess, wouldn’t fare too well in amateur wrestling. Now, that’s a hot take, considering Makhachev’s well-known wrestling abilities in the octagon. But Bo didn’t stop there. He went on to suggest some radical changes to wrestling itself to help bring it into the mainstream!

In a post on X by WrestlersGrind the three-time NCAA Division I national champion Bo Nickal sat down with Betr and in his usual no-nonsense style, Bo didn’t hold back: “A couple things need to happen for wrestling to become a mainstream sport. Get rid of Greco, doesn’t even make sense. Can’t grab the legs? Alright. Stupid made-up rule for no reason.”

Greco-Roman wrestling is a style where you can’t attack your opponent’s leg, and Bo’s not a fan. He thinks it’s it’s outdated, unnecessary, and frankly, just a “Stupid made up rule for no reason.” But he wasn’t done yet. “Honestly, I’ll be fine to add three weights to men’s freestyle and three weights to women’s freestyle.” The man wants to see more weight classes, and he’s willing to shake things up to make it happen. Bo’s solution?

Ditch that second bronze medal. “Take off the second bronze medal. Make everybody wrestle back for one bronze medal.” He’s all about making it tougher and more competitive. In his mind, fewer weight classes mean more intense matchups, which ultimately makes for better entertainment.

However, Kamal Bay, one of Greco-Roman wrestling’s standout stars, didn’t take too kindly to Bo Nickal’s recent remarks. Responding to Nickal’s post on X, Bay fired back, “Not grabbing legs makes things dumb? The most popular style of wrestling internationally is Greco-Roman. Most Americans won’t even take time to learn the sport, that’s why it’s uninteresting to most. Wish you’d come and take time to learn our sport, @NoBickal, then you’d appreciate how hard and how fun it can be.”

Nickal acknowledged Bay’s talent and said that if more Greco wrestlers were like Bay, his opinion might differ. He admitted, “I wrestled Greco at a high level as a kid and liked it a lot, but I think it’s just not quite as exciting overall as freestyle.” Bay’s tone softened after Nickal’s response. He appreciated the recognition but emphasized the beauty of wrestling’s different styles and his commitment to defending Greco-Roman’s future.

Bay wished Nickal good luck in his upcoming fights, signaling a respectful conclusion to their exchange. Nickal’s comments certainly stirred the pot in the wrestling community, but that wasn’t the only shot he fired this week. He also threw some shade at Islam Makhachev, hinting that the Dagestani’s chances on the mat might not be as solid as some think!

Bo Nickal doesn’t rate Islam Makachev’s chances in amateur wrestling too highly

Bo Nickal’s assessment of Islam Makhachev’s wrestling skills has sparked a lively debate, especially considering Makhachev’s reputation as one of the UFC’s most dominant grapplers. He took to X/Twitter to suggest that while Makhachev is a beast in the cage, his skills might not translate so well to the wrestling mat—especially against someone like four-time NCAA champion Carter Starocci.

Nickal pointed out some key factors: “Let’s consider a few things. Islam would have to wrestle 174 given the amount of weight he cuts. He comes from the mountains of Dagestan which historically produces some of the toughest people on the planet. Islam’s MMA wrestling is the highest level, which already makes him a formidable opponent. He’s got tons of competition experience, strength, endurance, and great technique, and a high IQ. He’s taken down everyone put in front of him with relative ease. With that being said, @carterstarocci wins by pin 1st period.”

This take is particularly bold given the fact that Makhachev, like many fighters from Dagestan, has built his career on ferocious grappling and wrestling. His training background in freestyle wrestling and Combat Sambo, combined with years of honing his skills in MMA, has made him #1 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings in the octagon.  We’ve seen fighters like Conor McGregor attempt to stand up to this style, only to crumble under the relentless pressure—McGregor famously lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov, another Dagestani grappler, by submission in the fourth round of their fight.

It’s an interesting take, especially considering Makhachev’s dominance in the octagon, where he’s made a habit of out-wrestling some of the best. But would those skills translate to the mat against someone like Starocci? Nickal seems to think not, but what do you think? And what are your thoughts on the Nittany Lion’s recent take on Betr? Share your thoughts in the comments below!