Fans headed to Real American Freestyle 05 were hit with last-minute disappointment when the highly anticipated wrestling-based fight between Bo Nickal and Yoel Romero was removed from the event shortly after the fighters weighed in. What had been billed as one of the night’s marquee matchups dissolved in a dramatic turn at the weigh-in stage, leaving competitors, organizers and spectators scrambling for answers.

The pairing of Nickal and Romero had been one of the most intriguing bouts on the RAF 05 card. Both athletes brought significant crossover appeal: Nickal as a decorated collegiate wrestler turned mixed martial artist, and Romero as an Olympic-level competitor and longtime MMA elite. Their styles and storied backgrounds had created real excitement, with fans eager to watch two elite grapplers square off under the Real American Freestyle banner.

Instead, the curtain-raising promise of that matchup unraveled late in the day when Nickal failed to make the contracted weight for the contest. The exact amount by which he missed the mark was not immediately disclosed to the public, but officials determined that he had not met the threshold required to compete as scheduled. In response, organizers made the decision to remove the bout from the official RAF 05 lineup.

At the weigh-ins, as fighters typically step onto the scale and finalize their status hours before competition, the announcement came quickly and unexpectedly once Nickal’s weight was confirmed. The news reverberated instantly, as attendees and viewers watching weigh-in coverage began to realize that the matchup — long discussed and heavily promoted — would not take place.

Nickal’s removal from the card sparked immediate reactions from fans and commentators alike. Many expressed frustration that a fight with so much buildup was undone in the final hours, while others debated whether alternative arrangements could have been made. Proposals ranged from catchweight adjustments to rescheduling the bout for another event, but for RAF 05, the decision was final: Nickal vs. Romero was off.

What made the situation more striking was the high stakes attached to the contest. Both athletes had trained extensively and invested significant preparation into the matchup. Nickal, known for his wrestling pedigree and recent crossover success in combat sports, had approached the bout as a chance to further solidify his competitive reputation. Romero, equally respected for his own wrestling and MMA legacy, had also geared his camp toward peak performance.

The abrupt cancellation left Romero without an opponent on short notice, and organizers had limited time to find a replacement or alter the card. In mixed martial arts and related competitive events, a last-minute weight miss by a headline fighter can throw logistical plans into chaos, forcing promoters to make difficult calls that balance athlete safety with event integrity.

The weight miss not only affected the individual bout but also had ripple effects across the remainder of the RAF 05 card. Spectators who had purchased tickets in anticipation of the matchup reacted on social platforms and in person, expressing disappointment and questioning how the organization would respond. Some voiced empathy for Nickal, acknowledging the difficulty of extreme weight cutting, while others placed the responsibility squarely on the competitor for failing to hit the mark.

Organizers did not immediately announce a replacement bout to take the place of Nickal vs. Romero, and it remained unclear whether either athlete would remain on the card in another capacity. In many high-profile combat sports events, a weight miss can lead to catchweight agreements or modified contests, but in this instance, the decision was made to remove the fight entirely.

Nickal’s weight miss at the official weigh-ins also opens the door to broader discussion about weight cutting and its challenges in combat sports. Athletes often undergo rigorous routines to reach the required limit, and last-minute failures can result in costly consequences for both competitors and promoters. When a bout carries as much visibility as the Nickal-Romero matchup, the stakes are even higher.

Romero, for his part, completed his weigh-in successfully and was available to compete. The veteran athlete had been preparing for the matchup with the intention of showcasing his grappling and competitive acumen. With the bout canceled, Romero was left without a contest, and fans were left wondering whether he would be rebooked for a future event or given a different competitive opportunity during the current card.

The weigh-in cancellation underscored a reality of elite combat competition: even when training camps are complete and promotions are locked in, the physical demands of making weight can still derail a much-anticipated fight. Fighters and their teams spend weeks planning nutrition, hydration and conditioning to meet specific thresholds, and an unsuccessful attempt can overshadow months of preparation.

For RAF 05 organizers, the disappointment of losing a highlight bout so close to event time was palpable. The card was already stacked with several notable matchups, and the removal of Nickal vs. Romero meant restructuring promotional messaging and managing fan expectations on the fly. Press and attendees worked to adjust coverage and anticipate how the remainder of the fight night would unfold without one of its centerpieces.

This isn’t the first time a combat sports event has faced disruption due to a fighter missing weight, but the timing and visibility of this situation made it especially disruptive. Matchups between high-profile athletes generate substantial interest, and when one participant cannot compete as planned, the impact is felt not just in the cage but across social conversation and fan engagement.

As RAF 05 moved forward without the Nickal vs. Romero bout, attention quickly pivoted to other scheduled contests and storylines. Fans and analysts alike began discussing how the rest of the card would play out and whether other athletes would rise to fill the void left by the canceled matchup.

Nickal’s weight miss represents both a personal setback and a reminder of the unforgiving nature of combat event logistics. For supporters of both athletes, the question now turns to what comes next: Will Nickal get a chance to make things right by rebooking the fight? Will Romero remain out of competition until a new opportunity arises? And how will RAF respond to ensure that its events maintain excitement and credibility despite unexpected challenges?

In the world of fight entertainment, upsets can happen inside the ring — and sometimes even before it. RAF 05’s reshuffling after the weigh-ins is just the latest example of how unpredictable and dramatic the sport can be, not just in competition but in every step leading up to it.