COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – Bo Nickal is keeping his expectations quite high now that he’s in the MMA world.

The four-time All-American and Penn State wrestling star is looking to reach the highest level in MMA. And that’s not just become champion of a major organization, but become one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters of his generation.

Nickal has two amateur fights under his belt and has yet to make his professional MMA debut. The 26-year-old knows his MMA journey is just beginning and there’s plenty of work to be done. Yet, Nickal is already aiming high.

“The goal for me is to be UFC champion,” Nickal told MMA Junkie. “I want to be the best pound-for-pound guy on the planet. At this point, that’s what I train for, that’s what I keep on my mind every day in these sessions.

“I’m early in my career. I only have two amateur fights, so it’s a long road ahead, but I’m really excited for it. At the end of the day, I see myself as UFC champion, No. 1 pound-for-pound guy on the roster. That’s the plan.”

Nickal’s two amateur wins have come by way of stoppages – one by submission and the other by KO. He’s expected to have another amateur bout sometime in the spring. Nickal told MMA Junkie he’ll likely turn professional after this fight or the following. Either way, he expects to make his professional debut in late 2022.

Nickal is no stranger to the bright lights, as he’s competed in front of thousands of people at numerous NCAA Championships and Big Ten Conference events. Yet, the standout wrestler does admit MMA comes with an extra layer of nerves when compared to wrestling.

“I’ve had two amateur fights and a small fight like that compares to the level of a big wrestling match like a Big Ten Championship match, an NCAA final match,” Nickal said. “The environment is definitely different. I compare it like I said to a big match. You know you’re going to go out there and the guy is going to try to punch you in the face and stuff, so it’s a different feeling vs. having a guy who’s going to try and score takedowns on you and stuff like that.

“So yeah, I enjoy that. But for me, when I was wrestling, the big matches were the ones I got most excited for. So to be able to have every competitive experience be like a big match feeling for my fights, that’s what I live for.”