Overview
- The featured preliminary middleweight bout at Madison Square Garden ended at 2:24 of Round 3 after Nickal’s head kick dropped Vieira.
- Nickal outstruck the ADCC champion throughout and stuffed every takedown attempt, with Vieira going 0-for-6 on shots.
- The result moves Nickal to 8-1 in MMA and marked his first appearance since a May knockout loss to Reinier de Ridder.
- After the finish, Nickal climbed the cage and flashed double middle fingers toward the New York crowd, prompting strong online reaction.
- Nickal entered as the betting favorite, and post-fight chatter included a callout from unbeaten prospect Baisangur Susurkaev.