Bo Nickal Shares “Down to Earth” Meet With Donald Trump After Getting Shout Out From Former POTUS

Bo Nickal‘s transition from dominating the wrestling mats as one of Penn State’s finest to making waves in MMA has been remarkable. A three-time NCAA Division I national champion and three-time Big Ten Conference champion at Penn State, Bo has found success in the UFC since his debut in 2022. He boasts an impressive record, with two wins by KO/TKO and four by submission. His latest victory over Cody Brundage at UFC 300 on April 13, 2024, was a second-round submission, breaking his streak of finishing all previous fights in the first round.

One notable figure who has expressed admiration for his talent is former President Donald Trump, whose shared passion for combat sports has led to an intriguing friendship with Nickal. After Trump’s public shout out to the accomplished Nittany Lion, Bo shared insights into their friendship and praised Trump’s humility.

Bo Nickal opens up about his bond with former POTUS Donald Trump

On his YouTube podcast, Nickals and Dimes, Bo Nickal was asked by Ronan Bell and Anthony Cassar about his reaction to former POTUS Donald Trump’s shout-out to him on Logan Paul’s podcast. Bo shared, “That was sick…It’s like what you do with your boy. Like, I hype him up; he hypes me up.” Bo went on to reveal that he and Trump often exchanged messages and hit the golf course together. He also acknowledged how, despite media portrayals, he thought of Trump’s character as genuine.

The wrestling star turned fighter went on to describe Trump as highly intelligent and astounded by his sharpness, especially given his age in his late 70s. Bo found Trump to be incredibly personable and charismatic, showing a deep interest in combat sports like wrestling and boxing. He said, “He’s, like, super up on the sport, which I think is just such a cool thing for literally… Like, how does he have time for that?“

Noting Trump’s down-to-earth nature despite his global fame, Bo Nickal shared, “He’s super down to earth. Considering out of the 8 billion people in the world right now, he’s the most famous, like, incredibly down to earth, considering that.“ He described moments when Trump would chat with him, discussing various topics ranging from sports to business in a casual and friendly manner. Bo highlighted Trump’s kindness and approachability, noting how Trump would also extend this demeanor to others despite his position.

In a full-circle moment, he also recalled their first meeting at the White House in 2019 after his NCAA wrestling team’s victory. Trump went out of his way to make the visit special, presenting them with hats, mugs, and other memorabilia and taking the time to pose for pictures with the team. This bond was further strengthened when they met again in Bedminster the following summer. The NCAA champion was impressed by Trump’s ability to remember their previous conversations.

He recalled a conversation from 2019 when he mentioned to Trump his ambition to transition from wrestling to fighting in MMA. Trump surprised Bo by recalling this conversation during their meeting in Bedminster, shortly after Bo’s UFC fight at 285. He shared, “When I went and met up with him in Bedminster last summer, he was like, ‘Yeah, it’s crazy. You know, in 2019, you told me you were going to be a fighter and, uh, here we are.’“ Reflecting on Bo Nickals’ remarks, let’s revisit the former POTUS’s acknowledgment of Bo Nickal.

Donald Trump’s shout-out to Bo Nickal with Logan Paul

Donald Trump has been a familiar face at several UFC events in recent years, consistently greeted with enthusiasm by fighters and fans alike as he enters the arena. Trump also expressed gratitude for the warm reception he receives at UFC events, finding it flattering. During his appearance on Logan Paul’s podcast ‘IMPAULSIVE,’ the former U.S. President discussed hosting collegiate champions at the White House, a tradition he values.

He singled out Bo Nickal as a wrestler who’s got what it takes for the UFC, pointing out Bo’s different mindset compared to other wrestlers trying MMA sharing, “A lot of wrestlers…they want to do the UFC thing but they can’t take the shots cause, you know, they’re wrestlers. I’ve been with a lot of them…There’s somebody named Bo Nickal, who I think is gonna be great. He’s a [UFC] fighter. He was an All-American…He went to Penn State and he’s phenomenal as a fighter. You’ll be watching him. But he doesn’t mind it if he gets hit. Some people don’t want that.“

Looking back on these words and the bond between Donald Trump and Bo Nickal, it’s clear they’ve got a real friendship going back to Bo’s NCAA wrestling days. Their shared love for combat sports and mutual respect goes beyond politics, showing how sports can bring people together in unexpected ways. What are your thoughts on this friendship? Share in the comments below!