Nicholas Piccininni (born December 16, 1996) is an American professional mixed martial artist and graduated folkstyle wrestler who currently competes in the flyweight division. As a wrestler, Piccininni became a threeâÂÂtime NCAA Division I All-American and a fourâÂÂtime Big 12 Conference champion out of the Oklahoma State University for John Smith.
Piccininni was born and raised in East Setauket, New York, and went on to attend Ward Melville High School. He made the varsity team in wrestling when he was in the eighth grade, year in which he placed third at the state championships. He won the state title in every year of high school, making him a fourâÂÂtime NYSPHSAA champion at four different weight classes (106, 113, 120 & 126 respectively). He also competed at FloNationals, tournament in which he was the runner-up on 2013 and the champion on 2014. He graduated with a record of 226âÂÂ3 and was awarded the 2015 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award. After graduation, Piccininni committed to the Oklahoma State University to wrestle for the Cowboys.
After compiling a 16âÂÂ4 record in open tournaments, claiming the OCU Open and the Bob Smith Open titles as a redshirting athlete, Piccininni went 27âÂÂ8 during his freshman season (2016âÂÂ2017) competing at 125 pounds, and went on to claim his first Big 12 Conference title before the NCAAs. At the National tournament, he went 5âÂÂ2 with both losses coming from returning NCAA runnerâÂÂup from Iowa Thomas Gilman, to place fourth and earn AllâÂÂAmerican honors. As a sophomore (2017âÂÂ2018), Piccininni claimed his second Big 12 title in a row, pinning Zeke Moisey from West Virginia in the finals. After two wins, Piccininni was pinned by freshman phenom and threeâÂÂtime ageâÂÂgroup World Champion from Iowa Spencer Lee (eventual winner of the championship) at the NCAAs, and went on to be eliminated by Ethan Lizak from Minnesota after losing by technical fall, compiling an overall record of 24âÂÂ5 and not placing at the tournament despite his sixth seed.
Piccininni showed major improvements as a junior (2018âÂÂ2019), building his record up to an undefeated 31âÂÂ0 record before the NCAAs, notably avenging his loss to the now returning NCAA champion from Iowa Spencer Lee and claiming his third Big 12 Conference title. At the National tournament, Piccininni racked up three wins before once again losing to Lee and getting thrown to consolations, where after being downed by 2016 Cadet World Championship runnerâÂÂup from Cornell Vito Arujau, he got a win over Pat Glory to place fifth and secure his second AllâÂÂAmerican mention.
In his senior year (2019âÂÂ2020) he captured 26 wins and 2 losses, became the ninth Cowboy to win four conference titles when he defeated Alex Mackall from Iowa State in the finals of the Big 12 Conference championships. Piccininni was the thirdâÂÂseeded wrestler for the 2020 NCAA Championships, however, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rendering him and all the qualifiers unable to compete. Piccininni earned firstâÂÂteam NWCA AllâÂÂAmerican honors after the season.
Piccininni graduated from the Oklahoma State University with a 112âÂÂ17 record, four Big 12 Conference titles and three AllâÂÂAmerican honors.
During his academic years, Piccinini did not compete very regularly in freestyle. In June 2018, he competed at the US U23 Nationals, where after a fourâÂÂmatch win streak he was quickly downed by Vito Arujau, placing sixth. A year later, he competed at the 2019 US Open in April, going 3âÂÂ2. He made another brief appearance at the 2019 Beat the Streets of May, where he was tech'd by Jack Mueller.
In April 2020, it was announced that Piccininni had joined the coaching staff of the wrestling team at Gilroy High School in Gilroy, California, along with notable athletes from AKA such as Daniel Cormier and Deron Winn.
In April 2020, Piccininni announced his transition to MMA and signed a contract with Zinkin Entertainment & Sports Management. He started training at American Kickboxing Academy, MMA powerhouse where former Cowboys such as Daniel Cormier and Kyle Crutchmer train. Piccininni made his professional debut on June 18, 2021, at XFN 371, winning by submission in the first round.
He made his sophomore appearance in the sport against Joseph McCormick at XFN 376 on December 10, 2021. He won the bout via first-round submission.
His third bout took place on June 24, 2022, at XFN 381 against Shawn Gustafson. He won the bout via unanimous decision.
He then faced Freddie Rodriguez at Fury FC 72 on December 18, 2022. He won the bout via first-round submission.
Piccininni appeared on Dana White's Contender Series 69 and faced Jack Duffy, winning his fight via a controversial split decision. Despite the win, Dana White didn't offer Piccininni a UFC contract although he did offer him a chance to rematch Jack Duffy at a later stage in the season.
Piccininni was scheduled to face Jack Duffy at Dana White's Contender Series 76 on October 15, 2024, in a rematch of their first fight, however Jack Duffy had to withdraw however due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by undefeated prospect Luis Gurule. Piccininni lost the fight via split decision.
Source:
|- |Win |align=center|8âÂÂ1 |Steven Orozco |Decision (split) |Fury FC 108 | |align=center|5 |align=center|5:00 |Dallas, Texas, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|7âÂÂ1 |Luis Gurule |Decision (split) |Dana White's Contender Series 76 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|7âÂÂ0 |Jack Duffy |Decision (split) |Dana White's Contender Series 69 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|6âÂÂ0 |Jomar Pa-ac |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Fury FC 92 | |align=center|4 |align=center|3:43 |Houston, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|5âÂÂ0 |Victor Gonzalez |Submission (arm-triangle choke) |Fury FC 83 | |align=center|2 |align=center|3:17 |Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | |- |Win |align=center|4âÂÂ0 |Freddie Rodriguez |Submission (arm-triangle choke) |Fury FC 72 | |align=center|1 |align=center|3:11 |Houston, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|3âÂÂ0 |Shawn Gustafson |Decision (unanimous) |Xtreme Fight Night 381 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | |- |Win |align=center|2âÂÂ0 |Joseph McCormick |Submission (arm-triangle choke) |Xtreme Fight Night 376 | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:28 |Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | |- |Win |align=center|1âÂÂ0 |Chancey Wilson |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Xtreme Fight Night 371 | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:41 |Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States |
! colspan="7"| Senior Freestyle Matches |- ! Res. ! Record ! Opponent ! Score ! Date ! Event ! Location |- |Loss |7âÂÂ4 |align=left| Jack Mueller |style="font-size:88%"|TF 0âÂÂ10 |style="font-size:88%"|May 6, 2019 |style="font-size:88%"|2019 Beat The Streets: Grapple at the Garden |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" | New York City, New York |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 | |- |Loss |7âÂÂ3 |align=left| Frank Perrelli |style="font-size:88%"|TF 0âÂÂ10 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|April 24âÂÂ27, 2019 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|2019 US Open National Championships |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=5| Las Vegas, Nevada |- |Win |7âÂÂ2 |align=left| Bernardino Gomez |style="font-size:88%"|TF 10âÂÂ0 |- |Win |6âÂÂ2 |align=left| Ian Timmins |style="font-size:88%"|8âÂÂ1 |- |Loss |5âÂÂ2 |align=left| Darian Cruz |style="font-size:88%"|2âÂÂ4 |- |Win |5âÂÂ1 |align=left| Christian Sharp |style="font-size:88%"|TF 10âÂÂ0 |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 | |- |Loss |4âÂÂ1 |align=left| Vito Arujau |style="font-size:88%"|TF 0âÂÂ10 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|June 1âÂÂ3, 2018 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|2018 US U23 National Championships |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=5| Akron, Ohio |- |Win |4âÂÂ0 |align=left| Jens Lantz |style="font-size:88%"|8âÂÂ1 |- |Win |3âÂÂ0 |align=left| Micky Phillippi |style="font-size:88%"|2âÂÂ2 |- |Win |2âÂÂ0 |align=left| Ryan Haskett |style="font-size:88%"|11âÂÂ9 |- |Win |1âÂÂ0 |align=left| Hunter Kosco |style="font-size:88%"|TF 10âÂÂ0 |-
! colspan="8"| NCAA Championships Matches |- ! Res. ! Record ! Opponent ! Score ! Date ! Event |- ! style=background:white colspan=6 |2019 NCAA Championships 5th at 125 lbs |- |Win |11âÂÂ6 |align=left|Pat Glory |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|March 20âÂÂ22, 2019 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |- |Loss |10âÂÂ6 |align=left|Vito Arujau |style="font-size:88%"|1âÂÂ5 |- |Loss |10âÂÂ5 |align=left|Spencer Lee |style="font-size:88%"|4âÂÂ11 |- |Win |10âÂÂ4 |align=left|Pat Glory |style="font-size:88%"|9âÂÂ5 |- |Win |9âÂÂ4 |align=left|Elijah Oliver |style="font-size:88%"|MD 13âÂÂ2 |- |Win |8âÂÂ4 |align=left|Korbin Meink |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |- ! style=background:white colspan=6 |2018 NCAA Championships DNP at 125 lbs |- |Loss |7âÂÂ4 |align=left|Ethan Lizak |style="font-size:88%"|TF 0âÂÂ16 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|March 15âÂÂ17, 2018 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |- |Loss |7âÂÂ3 |align=left|Spencer Lee |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |- |Win |7âÂÂ2 |align=left|Sean Russell |style="font-size:88%"|6-3 |- |Win |6âÂÂ2 |align=left|Travis Piotrowski |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |- ! style=background:white colspan=6 |2017 NCAA Championships 4th at 125 lbs |- |Loss |5âÂÂ2 |align=left|Thomas Gilman |style="font-size:88%"|6âÂÂ13 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=7|March 15âÂÂ17, 2017 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=7|2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |- |Win |5âÂÂ1 |align=left|Jack Mueller |style="font-size:88%"|INJ |- |Win |4âÂÂ1 |align=left|Sean Russell |style="font-size:88%"|SVâÂÂ1 6âÂÂ4 |- |Win |3âÂÂ1 |align=left|Brock Hudkins |style="font-size:88%"|7âÂÂ5 |- |Loss |2âÂÂ1 |align=left|Thomas Gilman |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |- |Win |2âÂÂ0 |align=left|Josh Rodriguez |style="font-size:88%"|5âÂÂ2 |- |Win |1âÂÂ0 |align=left|Elijah Oliver |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |-
! Season ! Year ! School ! Rank ! Weigh Class ! Record ! Win ! Bonus |- |2020 |Senior |rowspan=4|Oklahoma State University |#3 (DNQ) |rowspan=4|125 |26âÂÂ2 |92.86% |71.43% |- |2019 |Junior |#3 (5th) |35âÂÂ2 |94.59% |75.68% |- |2018 |Sophomore |#7 (DNP) |24âÂÂ5 |82.76% |48.28% |- |2017 |Freshman |#8 (4th) |27âÂÂ8 |77.14% |34.29% |- |colspan=5 bgcolor="LIGHTGREY"|Career |bgcolor="LIGHTGREY"|112âÂÂ17 |bgcolor="LIGHTGREY"|86.84% |bgcolor="LIGHTGREY"|57.42%