TLDR
- Bo Nickal knocked out Rodolfo Vieira with a head kick in the third round at UFC 322 in Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2025
- After the knockout, Nickal climbed the cage and gave double middle fingers to the New York crowd
- This was Nickal’s first fight since losing to Reinier de Ridder in May 2025
- Nickal said he was standing up for himself after fans criticized him throughout the week
- The win improved Nickal’s UFC record to 5-1 and his overall MMA record to 8-1
Bo Nickal returned to the win column at UFC 322 on Saturday night with a knockout victory over Rodolfo Vieira at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The fight ended in the third round when Nickal landed a head kick that knocked Vieira out cold.
The middleweight bout took place on the preliminary card of the ESPN+ pay-per-view event. Nickal controlled the fight from the opening bell and showed improved striking skills throughout the three rounds.
Nickal steadily damaged Vieira with his striking offense as the fight progressed. The former Penn State wrestler landed consistent shots and opened up cuts on his opponent’s face. In the third round, Nickal switched up his attack and threw a perfectly placed head kick that Vieira did not see coming.
The Monday Grind: Islam Makhachev rules 170, Bo Nickal silences the doubters, Ethyn Ewing impresses on debut#UFC322 | #UFC | #MMAhttps://t.co/0thzteo5lr
— Simon Head (@simonheadsport) November 17, 2025
The knockout marked Nickal’s first fight since his loss to Reinier de Ridder in May 2025 at UFC Des Moines. That defeat was the first of Nickal’s MMA career and came by TKO. The 29-year-old needed a strong performance to bounce back from that setback.
After the knockout, Nickal climbed onto the cage and displayed both middle fingers to the Madison Square Garden crowd. The gesture drew attention during his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan and became a talking point after the event.
Nickal Explains His Actions
During the post-fight press conference, Nickal addressed his celebration and the gesture toward the fans. He told reporters he felt he had something to prove after his first career loss. The wrestler admitted he carries a competitive nature that sometimes shows through his emotions.
“I have a chip on my shoulder,” Nickal said at the media scrum. “I wish that I was a little bit better person, but I’m not. I’m very competitive and I’m just a guy.”
Nickal explained that fighting in front of millions of people brings out strong emotions. He described the experience as fighting in his underwear with the whole world watching. The pressure and spotlight have been constant since his UFC debut.
The crowd at Madison Square Garden had been vocal toward Nickal throughout fight week. He said fans criticized him and gave him problems leading up to the event. His post-fight gesture was his way of responding to that treatment.
Why Bo Nickal flipped off crowd after UFC 322 KO: ‘I was just standing up for myself’ #BoNickal #UFC322 #MMA #FightNight #StandUpForYourself https://t.co/H3CuPX1Gc9
— Just Curious (@curious_media) November 17, 2025
Response to Critics
Nickal said he viewed his actions as standing up for himself rather than being disrespectful. He explained that if people were going to criticize him all week, he would give them a response. The middleweight fighter said it was not personal and was just his way of expressing how he felt.
“They’re going to jaw at me and give me crap, then give it back a little bit,” Nickal explained. “I don’t look at it as anything other than just standing up for myself a little bit.”
The victory improved Nickal’s UFC record to 5-1 and his overall MMA record to 8-1. His opponent Vieira dropped to 6-4 in the UFC and 11-4 overall. The knockout came after Nickal had shown dominant wrestling and grappling in his previous UFC appearances.
Nickal’s striking improvement was evident throughout the fight. While his wrestling background remains his main strength, he displayed better stand-up skills against Vieira. The head kick knockout showed he has been working on all areas of his game since the loss to de Ridder.
The win at UFC 322 puts Nickal back on track as he heads into 2026. His performance at Madison Square Garden demonstrated his ability to perform on big stages and bounce back from defeat.
