Highly touted middleweight prospect Bo Nickal is scheduled to return at UFC 322 in New York on November 15, marking his first appearance since suffering a knockout loss to Reinier de Ridder in May.
The three-time NCAA champion wrestler will face decorated grappler Rodolfo Vieira. The matchup pits elite styles against each other, as Vieira is a multi-time grappling world champion, including a gold medal at the prestigious ADCC tournament in 2015. Vieira enters the contest with a record of 3-1 in his last four UFC outings.
Nickal, who entered the promotion as one of its most anticipated signings, began his UFC career with four consecutive wins before his defeat to de Ridder.
The UFC 322 card is headlined by two championship bouts. In the main event, welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena will defend his title against former lightweight king Islam Makhachev, who is moving up to the 170-pound division. The co-main event features flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko taking on Zhang Weili, who will vacate her strawweight belt for a chance at a second UFC title.
Other confirmed matchups include a middleweight clash between Roman Kopylov and Gregory Rodrigues. Additionally, Dana White’s Contender Series standout Baisangur Susurkaev will fight Eric McConico. Susurkaev earned his contract with a win on the show and made a successful, quick-turnaround debut just days later with a submission victory over Eric Nolan at UFC 319.
The confirmed UFC 322 lineup so far:
MAIN EVENT: Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev
CO-MAIN EVENT: Valentina Shevchenko vs. Zhang Weili
Leon Edwards vs. Carlos Prates
Erin Blanchfield vs. Tracy Cortez
Roman Kopylov vs. Gregory Rodrigues
Bo Nickal vs. Rodolfo Vieira
Baisangur Susurkaev vs. Eric McConico
