A middleweight clash between Rodolfo Vieira and Bo Nickal would be a delight for grappling aficionados in the UFC, putting in the cage a multi-time jiu-jitsu world champion and a three-time NCAA Division I champion.

“The Black Belt Hunter” isn’t against it.

Vieira returns to action Saturday at UFC Vegas 102 to battle Andre Petroski a year after his most recent octagon appearance—a first-round submission over Armen Petrosyan—and said he won’t think of anything past Petroski at this moment. However, the fact he was offered a UFC bout with Nickal in 2024 keeps that idea in the air.

“It’s a very big fight,” Vieira said of possibly facing the undefeated MMA talent. “But everybody asks me what are my plans for after the fight and I don’t like to answer because I prefer to win this fight and then see what I’m going to do. We don’t know if we’ll win or if we’ll lose. Of course, everybody wants to win, everybody prepares to win, but I like to take one step at a time. After my fight, if all goes right and I win, then I’ll see with my team and my manager.”

UFC wanted Vieira vs. Nickal for UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, but Vieira still wasn’t medically cleared to punch with his right hand when offered the bout. The Brazilian ace had a wrist injury going into his clash with Petrosyan in February and it only got worse after. Vieira eventually had to undergo surgery in April after experiencing “unbearable pain” due to a ligament tear.

Vieira entered the mat to compete in November, making short work of Derek Brunson in a grappling contest at ADXC in Brazil.

“I wasn’t throwing punches yet when they offered me Bo Nickal, I was only using my left hand,” Vieira said. “I was like, I won’t take such a tough fight not being able to punch. I won’t do that mistake, right? It was the best decision.”

Although he won’t discuss facing Nickal without getting the job done first this weekend in Las Vegas, Vieira admits it would be a “very interesting” fight.