As the combat sports world turns its attention to the upcoming Real American Freestyle 05 event in Sunrise, Florida, a fiery press conference on Friday set the tone for one of the most talked-about moments leading up to the weekend. Former UFC contenders Colby Covington and Luke Rockhold took the microphone to criticize middleweight standout Bo Nickal with blunt and personal language, drawing reactions from fans, fighters and media alike.

RAF 05 is a high-profile freestyle wrestling and combat sports card scheduled for January 10, 2026, at Amerant Bank Arena, featuring a main event between Covington and Rockhold under the Real American Freestyle banner. The card also includes a light heavyweight title matchup with Nickal, a decorated wrestler and rising MMA figure, taking on fellow veteran Yoel Romero in a featured bout. Other matches on the card include multiple championship contests and appearances by notable athletes from MMA and wrestling backgrounds.

Friday night’s press conference, designed to promote the event, instead became a flashpoint as Covington and Rockhold shifted their attention to Nickal, who was sitting in the audience. What began as standard promotional remarks quickly morphed into a verbal skirmish as the two veterans questioned Nickal’s accomplishments and credibility in combat sports.

Colby Covington and Luke Rockhold GO OFF on Bo Nickal. 😳 #RAF5

(via @dannyseguratv) pic.twitter.com/lMK9AZuMjN

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 9, 2026

“Listen, it's the type of bozos like this that just kill the sport of wrestling,” Covington said during his turn at the podium, eyeing Nickal across the room. His use of the term “bozos” underscored the dismissive tone that would follow. “We need stars. We need people that are willing to be vocal and call their shots,” Covington added, implying that Nickal did not fit that mold.

When Nickal responded from the front row by saying he “checks off all those boxes” and would welcome a challenge from Covington, the veteran former UFC welterweight contender shut down the idea. “No, that’d be too easy, bro. You’re a bum. You got broken by a Dutch kickboxer. You’re a bum, dude. You’re not even the main event, there’s a reason,” Covington said, striking directly at Nickal’s MMA credentials and professional résumé.

Rockhold, a former UFC middleweight champion and a competitor with a storied career that includes victories over elite fighters, then joined in with his own critique. He seemed intent on drawing a sharp distinction between Nickal’s wrestling background and what he sees as the demands of professional MMA and freestyle wrestling on the bigger stage.

“You should make the top 10 before you start talking about a sport that built another sport,” Rockhold said, continuing the pressure on Nickal. “The reason why wrestling is here on this stage is because of MMA. You’ve done absolutely nothing in the sport of MMA. You quit. You quit before the knee even hit you, Bo. So just button it up.” His comments painted Nickal as someone still learning the ropes of professional combat competition.

Rockhold didn’t stop there, escalating his critique with a pointed challenge. “I will put you to sleep,” he said, suggesting a modified rules matchup between them as a hypothetical test of toughness and readiness, underscoring the gulf he perceives between experience and potential.

The tone of the press conference was defiant and even antagonistic at times, as both Covington and Rockhold leaned into their roles as seasoned veterans with long careers in elite competition. Their willingness to vocally challenge Nickal in front of a live audience — and directly to his face — left little doubt about their intent to unsettle the younger athlete and frame the narrative around who “deserves” prominence.

Nickal, for his part, did not appear fazed publicly. Though he was the target of their barbs, he remained in his seat and later took the podium himself, refusing to shrink from the confrontation. In essence, his presence and willingness to engage — even if momentarily on the receiving end of the criticism — illustrated a shift in how modern combat sports personalities manage public scrutiny and hype.

The verbal confrontation at the press conference wasn’t just about personality clashes; it highlighted a larger dynamic between established fighters with decades of experience and newer crossover athletes carving out their own space. Nickal, who built a reputation in collegiate wrestling and has an MMA career that has included a mix of dominant performances and setbacks, represents a generation of athletes moving fluidly between disciplines. Covington and Rockhold, however, made it clear they believe that respect in combat sports still must be earned through established channels and notable accomplishments at the professional level.

Covington’s MMA history includes ranked competition and title contention, and his return to action marks a continuation of his competitive journey. Rockhold’s legacy includes a world title and momentum as a seasoned competitor. Their tandem critique of Nickal at the press conference brought into sharp focus how veterans view rising stars: not just as competitors, but as figures whose presence and voice are subject to scrutiny as much as their athletic output.

RAF 05, broadcast live on FOXNation, will be watched closely not only for the outcomes of the matches but also for what this press conference revealed about locker room dynamics and perceptions of merit within combat sports. Whether the athletes will settle differences in competition or continue to trade words in media appearances remains to be seen, but the tension introduced at this press event has already energized discussion among fans and pundits alike. The atmosphere may have been intended as promotion, but instead it became a reminder that ego, respect and rivalry are very much part of combat sports culture — on and off the mat.