Bo Nickal vs. Joe Pyfer Pulled from UFC 335, Set for Cleveland

Bo Nickal's middleweight showdown with Joe Pyfer has been pulled from UFC 335 and will instead headline a new UFC Cleveland card in February 2027. Nickal broke the news himself, announcing the switch during an appearance at a political rally for Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

"I got a call backstage, and I do have some news, which is pretty exciting," Nickal said. "My boy right here mentioned my fight in December. It actually got moved to February, where I'm going to be main-eventing in Cleveland. So, I'm sure I'm going to see a bunch of you guys there supporting. I appreciate you guys. We are gonna go smash this guy and then go take the belt."

Pyfer wasted no time clapping back once video of the announcement surfaced, posting, "Bro talking about gonna go smash this dude. I will take your fake dreams away. Poor kid vs rich kid."

Why This Fight Matters for Nickal's Middleweight Push

Bo Nickal enters this bout 6-1 in the UFC after three years in the promotion, and plenty of fans view Joe Pyfer as the line in the sand for his hype. The three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion has been fast-tracked with favorable matchmaking, and a win over a legitimate, surging middleweight like Pyfer would finally validate the push toward title contention. Pyfer, for his part, hasn't fought since knocking out Israel Adesanya in the second round back in March, and by the time Cleveland rolls around he'll have gone nearly a full year between appearances. A layoff like that cuts both ways. It could mean a fresher, healthier Pyfer, or it could mean rust against a wrestler who thrives on pace and volume.

What Happens to UFC 335 Now

UFC 335 on December 12 goes on without its planned co-feature, but the card still has plenty of juice. Charles Oliveira meets Diego Lopes for the BMF title, Alex Pereira takes on Sergei Pavlovich in a heavyweight contender bout, and former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno squares off with Charles "InnerG" Johnson. Losing Nickal-Pyfer stings, but it won't gut the card's drawing power.

A venue and exact date for UFC Cleveland haven't been locked in yet. The promotion hasn't been back to the city since UFC 203 in 2016, when Stipe Miocic defended his heavyweight title against Alistair Overeem at what's now called Rocket Arena.

Betting Angle

Expect Bo Nickal to open as a solid favorite once sportsbooks post numbers for the rebooked fight, given his wrestling pedigree and the way he's steamrolled lower-tier competition. But this line should be tighter than his previous outings. Joe Pyfer has legitimate knockout power and has shown he can end a fight in a single exchange, which keeps him live as an underdog play if bettors think the long layoff hasn't dulled his finishing instincts. The extra two months of lead time also removes any short-notice discount from the betting math, since both guys will have a full camp to prepare. Worth tracking how the line moves once Pyfer gets back in the gym and whether any ring rust shows up in his training footage before fight week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bo Nickal still fighting Joe Pyfer at UFC 335?

No, Bo Nickal vs. Joe Pyfer has been pulled from the UFC 335 card on December 12 and rescheduled to headline a new UFC Cleveland event in February 2027.

Why was Bo Nickal vs. Joe Pyfer moved?

Bo Nickal announced that the UFC moved his fight against Joe Pyfer from UFC 335 to a new card in Cleveland, though no injury or specific reason was given.

What is Bo Nickal's UFC record?

Bo Nickal is 6-1 in the UFC heading into his rescheduled middleweight bout against Joe Pyfer in Cleveland.

When did Joe Pyfer last fight?

Joe Pyfer last fought in March, when he knocked out Israel Adesanya in the second round.