The Contender Series takes place on Tuesday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and airs on ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The evening’s featured matchup is a middleweight clash between Nickal and Donovan Beard (184).
Nickal, a three-time NCAA national champion at Penn State University, is one of the most high-touted MMA prospects in recent memory. The 26-year-old was dominant in his first Contender Series appearance, submitting Zachary Borrego with a rear-naked choke in just 62 seconds on Aug. 9.
Beard, 32, has been victorious in seven of eight professioal outings. Most recently, he claimed Cage Fury Fighting Championship gold with a fourth-round tapout of Miles Lee at CFFC 111 on July 29.
Contender Series Weigh-in Results:
Bo Nickal (185.5) vs. Donovan Beard (184)Sam Patterson (155) vs. Vinicius Sacchelli Cenci (155)
Freddy Emiliano Linares (144.5) vs. Jack Jenkins (145.5)
Rafael Ramos Estevam vs. Joao Elias (125)
Ashiek Ajim (135.5) vs. Mateus Mendonca (134.5)