Nickal rebounds with head-kick KO at UFC 322

Bo Nickal returned to the win column in a big way at UFC 322.

The middleweight prospect knocked out Rodolfo Vieira with a head kick at the 2:24 mark of the third round in the featured preliminary bout Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

Nickal stepped into the Octagon for the first time since suffering his first career loss against Reinier de Ridder in May.

Nickal, a three-time NCAA national champion in folkstyle wrestling, dominated the entire fight with his improved stand-up game. He pieced Vieira up with jabs and outlanded his opponent 77-24 in significant strikes.

Nickal, 29, lifted his UFC record to 5-1 with four finishes.