Bo Nickal Gets Replacement Opponent for UFC 290

Two Undefeated Prospects Clash at UFC 290

Gore (4-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) was originally scheduled to face Nickal (4-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at UFC 290 this Saturday but Gore was forced to withdraw from the bout due to injury.

Gore commented on the injury via. Instagram Stories, “Unfortunately, I am out of my fight for this weekend and I’m extremely sad about it, but the truth is I’m not healthy and I may have to get surgery that will have me out six months to a year. Torn scaphoid ligament in one of my wrists. I feel extremely bummed but I will still be champion and I will still prove I’m better than this dude and I’m an elite fighter, but I have to get healthy before anything. As of now, I’m avoiding the surgery but I have rounds of stem cell treatment I have to do until I heal up.”

When the news broke, it seemed doubtful if the UFC could find a replacement fighter for the injured Gore to take on Nickal in less than a week’s notice but thankfully the UFC has got it done.

Val Woodburn (7-0 MMA) has filled the spot. Woodburn is an undefeated prospect at the pro level. Woodburn went 3-1-1 as an amateur before joining promotion- Combat Night Pro, all seven of Woodburn’s fights have been under the promotion, winning five by KO/TKO and two by decision. Woodburn’s most recent outing was in August of last year, he defeated Luis Melo at Combat Night Pro: Tallahassee via. Unanimous Decision to capture the middleweight title for the promotion. Woodburn was originally expected to compete in the upcoming seasons of Dana White’s Contender Series but destiny has opened a ‘new’ door into the UFC for the undefeated- Woodburn.

This will be Nickal’s second UFC fight as in his first fight for the promotion he defeated Jamie Pickett (13-9 MMA, 2-5 UFC) at UFC 285 back in March, via. First-Round Submission. Bo Nickal is a three-time NCAA Champion Wrestler from Penn State. So far the transition to MMA has been relatively seamless for the hyped prospect, as he’s won all of his MMA bouts with relative ease, going 2-0 as an amateur and 4-0 as a pro with every win coming by way of a finish (4 by Sub, 2 by KO) in the first round.

Made his debut look EASY 😳@NoBickal's back for more this weekend at #UFC290! pic.twitter.com/LGXzvdY3dN

— UFC (@ufc) July 5, 2023

UFC 290 is this Saturday, July 8th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Nevada. The updated card for UFC 290 is as follows, keep in mind that the bouts and their order are subject to change. Bout Order via. Tapology.

• Lightweight Bout: Kamuela Kirk vs. Esteban Ribovics
• Flyweight Bout: Shannon Ross vs. Jesus Aguilar
• Bantamweight Bout: Cameron Saaiman vs. Terrence Mitchell
• Light Heavyweight Bout: Vitor Petrino vs. Marcin Prachnio
• Catchweight Bout (130): Edgar Chairez vs. Tatsuro Taira
• Light Heavyweight Bout: Jimmy Crute vs. Alonzo Menifield
• Women’s Strawweight Bout: Yazmin Jauregui vs. Denise Gomes
• Welterweight Bout: Jack Della Maddalena vs. Josiah Harrell
• Welterweight Bout: Robbie Lawler vs. Niko Price
• Middleweight Bout: Bo Nickal vs. Valentine Woodburn
• Lightweight Bout: Dan Hooker vs. Jalin Turner
• Middleweight Bout: Robert Whittaker vs. Dricus Du Plessis
• Flyweight Title Bout: Brandon Moreno (C) vs. Alexandre Pantoja
• Featherweight Title Bout: Alexander Volkanovksi (C) vs. Yair Rodriguez