“A lot of times the community can’t get out of its own way,” Mineo said. “We have to show our support. Some people in the wrestling community say, ‘He didn’t fight anybody. Let’s see him get hit! and it’s like, wait a minute, why don’t you understand the process? I think the tide with the rest of the wrestling community will change when he’s in the UFC and they’ll still see him there knocking people out. So maybe they’ll shut up or be like, ‘I’ve loved Bo Nickal since he’s been at Penn State!’ »
Ireland wasn’t divided over Conor McGregor when he became the most famous name in MMA, and now every fighter outside of Ireland is getting a second look as a result. If NCAA fans supported Nickal, wrestlers-turned-fighters-of-the-future might just get the same treatment.
Watch Bo Nickal’s Dana White’s Contender Series Debut
While the wrestling community, on its own, is unlikely to cast aside its academic allegiances and band together, the perfect wrench may have just been thrown into the equation.
After Nickal’s DWCS dominance, longtime light heavyweight and UFC fan favorite Anthony Smith spoke a lot about the hype surrounding Nickal.
“…the reason Bo Nickal is in MMA is he wasn’t good enough to make an Olympic team,” Smith said of Michael Bisping. Believe me podcast.
The comment sparked nearly all of Mineo’s 25,000+ page members and assembled the torn fan base.
