VIDEO | Bo Nickal, Josh Hokit wrestled 7 years before UFC White House

UFC stars Bo Nickal and Josh Hokit squared off in NCAA Division-I wrestling seven years before their fights on the White House lawn.

UFC stars Bo Nickal and Josh Hokit will come full circle this weekend at UFC White House.

Nickal and Hokit will compete in separate bouts at UFC Freedom 250 this Sunday on the White House lawn. Both fighters are looking to make statements in marquee bouts, including Hokit’s upcoming showdown with heavyweight fan favorite Derrick Lewis.

A lot has changed over seven years for Nickal and Hokit as they transitioned from other athletic pursuits to make their marks inside the Octagon. In 2019, Nickal and Hokit squared off in another combat sport; wrestling.

Nickal (Penn State) and Hokit (Fresno State) battled in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Wrestling Championships. It was a dominant performance from Nickal, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest collegiate athletes of all-time.

Despite Nickal’s dominance, the UFC middleweight acknowledged that Hokit presented him with a test he seldom saw on the college wrestling mats.

WATCH: Bo Nickal mauled Josh Hokit at 2019 NCAA Championships

Nickal praised Hokit’s wrestling in a recent tweet after footage of them wrestling went viral.

🚨🤼‍♂️ In 2019, Josh Hokit faced Bo Nickal on the wrestling mats, and it was complete domination from the Penn State legend.

🇺🇸 Fast forward to 2026 and both are on
the UFC White House card this weekend. pic.twitter.com/PCcCU1WKHL

— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) June 8, 2026

“Josh Hokit was the only guy I wrestled my senior year of college who actually tried to beat me and not just stall,” Nickal said.

Nickal is one of the few UFC fighters to compliment Hokit during his controversial UFC tenure. Hokit has made many enemies during his young UFC career, including Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira.

Regardless, Nickal and Hokit will reunite this weekend in the nation’s capital. While Hokit has ruffled many feathers during his career, don’t expect Nickal to be one of his latest targets.

What is your bold prediction for UFC Freedom 250? Let us know in the comments!