Overview
- Nickal lost 3-2 to 2026 NCAA champion Max McEnelly at RAF 12 in Cleveland on Aug. 22, marking his first wrestling defeat since 2020 and prompting a public note of disappointment.
- Despite the upset, Nickal remains booked to wrestle Olympic gold medalist Shirvani Muradov on Sept. 5 at RAF Moscow, an event that also features Khamzat Chimaev headlining against Tyron Woodley.
- Nickal has told media he would prefer to settle a potential matchup with Chimaev in the UFC first while remaining open to a RAF wrestling meeting, a position that highlights the two-sport rivalry being discussed.
- On the MMA side, Nickal is building momentum after a first-round TKO of Kyle Daukaus and holds a Top 15 UFC middleweight ranking, which shapes the realism and timing of any Octagon meeting with Chimaev.
- The result sharpens matchmaking choices for promoters because RAF is stacking crossover stars to grow internationally and Chimaev’s post-Strickland standing has invited new callouts, so the next weeks could decide whether any Nickal–Chimaev bout happens under UFC rules or as a RAF showcase.