Former Oklahoma State Wrestler Nick Piccininni to Compete on Dana White’s Contender Series

Former Oklahoma State wrestler Nick Piccininni could be a win away from a UFC contract.

Piccininni will compete on Dana White’s Contender Series at 7 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN+. He was a late addition for the flyweight (125 pounds) bout, replacing Jose Ochoa to fight Jack Duffy.

Although not affiliated with the UFC promotion, Dana White’s Contender Series is a promotion developed by the UFC president to showcase up-and-coming talent and give them a chance to compete for a UFC contract. Each invitee gets one fight for an opportunity to impress White and possibly earn a contract. A win Tuesday night does not guarantee Piccininni a UFC contract.

Piccininni is 6-0 since starting his MMA career in 2021. He has competed in the Xtreme Fight Night and Fury promotions. He most recently beat Jomar Pa-ac with a rear-naked choke in the fourth round on June 16. Duffy, his next opponent, is also 6-0.

Don’t let Nick Piccininni get you down.

He stays undefeated with a 4th round RNC at #Fury92 pic.twitter.com/a9agAqerRu

— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) June 17, 2024

Piccininni started his MMA career at bantamweight (135 pounds) with Xtreme Fight Night, where he was 3-0. He dropped down to flyweight and switched promotions to Fury in 2022 and has been 3-0 since that move.

Before pursuing MMA, Piccininni was a three-time All-American and four-time Big 12 champion at 125 pounds for the Cowboys. He’s most famous for pinning Iowa’s Spencer Lee to begin a dual in front of a full Gallagher-Iba Arena crowd in 2019.

Who remembers this moment in GIA? 👀 @CowboyWrestling vs Iowa this Sunday at 2 pm. Let’s pack GIA 🤠

🎟️: https://t.co/lGatQLFLeh pic.twitter.com/9BhBSdksvM

— Oklahoma State Athletics (@OSUAthletics) February 19, 2024

Piccininni’s former OSU teammate Jacobe Smith is also supposed to appear on Dana White’s Contenders Series this season, but a date for his fight has not been announced yet.