Colby Covington gives Bo Nickal an ultimatum on potential UFC showdown after White House snub

Former UFC welterweight title challenger Colby Covington shared a clear stance on potentially fighting Bo Nickal inside the Octagon.

UFC stars Colby Covington and Bo Nickal traded barbs at a pre-match press conference ahead of a Real American Freestyle wrestling event earlier this year. Since their beef kicked off, Covington and Nickal continue to be on each other’s nerves, especially after Nickal repeatedly called out Covington for a fight at the White House this summer.

While Nickal got his wish in fighting at UFC Freedom 250, Covington was one of several top names left out of the conversation for the card. Covington has been sidelined since a loss to Joaquin Buckley in December 2024.

Despite Nickal’s repeated callouts, Covington hasn’t answered, and Nickal is focused on his upcoming fight with Kyle Daukaus on the White House lawn. But after UFC Freedom 250, Nickal has a path to securing a showdown with Covington, albeit with a catch.

Colby Covington pushes Bo Nickal to drop to 170 for potential fight

In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Covington sent a strong message to Nickal and provided a path to a potential future fight.

“Alright Bozo, I know you’re a big fan of weight classes and refused to wrestle a 50-year-old man who was 6lbs too heavy,” Covington said to Nickal.

“You won’t stop talking about us being the same weight, which is honestly refreshing to hear because I’m 190lbs right now and will weigh 170lbs without a problem on a full camp.

“So if we’re the same weight like you claim, that means you’re 190lbs right now and a full camp should get you down to 170lbs as well,” Covington continued. “I propose we do this in a weight class where one of us is ranked and there’s actual stakes.” (h/t Bloody Elbow)

Covington has never fought at middleweight in his MMA career, while Nickal has fought at middleweight for the entirety of his time in the cage. Despite previously teasing a move to middleweight, Covington seems refocused on contending at welterweight rather than moving up.

How would a Colby Covington vs. Bo Nickal fight play out? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!