Bo Nickal recently took the stage at United States President Donald Trump’s Pennsylvania rally, along with fellow MMA fighter Anthony Cassar, where Nickal recalled visiting the White House in 2019 as a collegiate wrestler with Penn State after winning the NCAA championships. Nickal revealed what the interaction was like with President Trump and explained how it came full circle all these years later.
In 2019, President Trump held a special NCAA Champions Day where all NCAA champions, representing various sports, were invited to the White House. Penn State wrestling was among the teams honored after winning the 2019 NCAA D1 Wrestling Championships that year, and as one of the program’s biggest winners, Bo Nickal attended the event alongside his teammates Jason Nolf, Mason Manville, and many more, and interacted with the president.
Reflecting on that moment during his speech at the president’s P.A. rally, Nickal spoke about how the president encouraged his transition from wrestling to MMA.
“I told Trump when I was done wrestling, I was gonna fight. And he asked me, do you need a manager?” said Nickal (5:44)
He then spoke about how the interaction had now come full circle when he got a chance to compete at the White House as an MMA fighter and said that seeing the president sitting right next to his corner made him feel special.
“Fast forward 7 years; I’m fighting on the White House lawn. I look at my corner, and President Trump is right next to it. It felt to me like he was in my corner. That was so special.”
Video credit: Right Side Broadcasting Network
Bo Nickal was part of UFC Freedom 250’s historic fight card, which took place on 14 June 2026 at the South Lawn of the White House. Nickal faced Kyle Daukaus in a middleweight bout and took home the win by a first-round knockout (KO) at the 4:34 mark.
President Donald Trump Jokes That He Could Take Bo Nickal in a UFC Fight
Before inviting Bo Nickal to the stage at the P.A. rally, President Donald Trump lightheartedly claimed that he could take on Bo Nickal in the Octagon. During the speech, comparing their physical attributes, the president jokingly claimed that his years of golfing experience and weight advantage could outlast Nickals’ youthful athleticism.
“I’m a similar size. I weigh more than he does, actually. Therefore, I have a tremendous physical advantage. His muscles are slightly harder and slightly younger, but I think I can do it because I’m a great athlete. He knows I’m a very good golfer,” he said (0:10)
The president went on to praise the wrestler-turned-MMA fighter’s historic run at the UFC and commended his knockout win from last week’s event.
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