Bo Nickal says Gable Steveson threatened to KO him backstage before UFC 331 upset: ‘This is insane’

UFC middleweight contender Bo Nickal revealed that fellow wrestler-turned-fighter Gable Steveson threatened to knock him out during a backstage confrontation at an RAF event. Nickal recounted the exchange on "The Ariel Helwani Show," explaining that he confronted Steveson over recent media comments, which escalated into a heated argument where Steveson claimed he would KO Nickal in a fight.

Nickal said he warned Steveson that his defensive striking and experience were lacking, a critique that proved prescient when Sean Sharaf knocked out Steveson in 12 seconds at UFC 331. Despite the altercation, Nickal noted he still feels bad for Steveson following the upset and hopes he can rebound from the loss.