Bo Nickal vs. Olympic champion Shirvani Muradov set for RAF Moscow

Bo Nickal will showcase his elite wrestling credentials in a Real American Freestyle (RAF) bout against 2008 Olympic gold medalist Shirvani Muradov on September 5 in Moscow. The matchup represents another opportunity for the UFC middleweight to compete in the freestyle wrestling format shortly after his scheduled RAF 12 appearance against Max McEnelly on August 22.

Nickal, a three-time NCAA champion and Dan Hodge Trophy winner, made his RAF debut at the promotion's inaugural event in August 2025, winning against Jacob Cardenas on points. Now 30, the Pennsylvania native continues to develop his wrestling arsenal outside the Octagon. However, Muradov presents a formidable challenge—the Azerbaijani wrestler won Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games in the 96kg (212-pound) category and brings significantly more freestyle experience than his American counterpart.

The bout will stream live on Fox Nation in the United States, with additional international broadcast details expected soon. For Nickal, facing an Olympic champion in his home country could prove both a challenging test and a valuable learning experience as he balances his UFC middleweight career with elite-level wrestling competition.