UFC contender Damir Ismagulov says he’s done fighting: ‘I am forced to end my sports career’

Damir Ismagulov plans to hang up the gloves for reasons beyond his control.

UFC lightweight contender [autotag]Damir Ismagulov[/autotag] says he’s done fighting.

In an Instagram post Sunday, Ismagulov (24-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) said health issues have forced him to retire from professional competition. He did not elaborate further on the decision, but thanked his supporters.

“Unfortunately, due to circumstances and health problems, I am forced to end my sports career,” Ismagulov wrote in Russian. “Thanks to all those who were with me regardless of the outcome in the battles, who were sincerely sick and worried. It was an interesting journey, a moment to remember. (Give) everyone a hug.”

Ismagulov, 31, most recently competed Dec. 17 at UFC Fight Night 216 when he lost a competitive fight to Arman Tsarukyan via unanimous decision. The loss was his first under the promotion’s banner and his first since 2015.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm4W-tKtShN/

Representing Kazakhstan, Ismagulov made his UFC debut in December 2018 after a championship run as the lightweight champion for Russian promotion M-1 Global. Over the span of his six-fight UFC tenure, Ismagulov won decisions against Alex Gorgees, Joel Alvarez, Thiago Moises, Rafael Alves and Guram Kutateladze.

At the time of his retirement, Ismagulov was ranked No. 12 in the UFC lightweight rankings.

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UFC Fight Night 216 post-event facts: Drew Dober ties Dustin Poirier’s knockout record

Drew Dober tied Dustin Poirier for the most knockout wins in UFC lightweight history with his finish of Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 66.

The UFC closed out its 2022 schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 216, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The main event of the 42nd and final fight card of the year saw [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] (16-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) squeak out a split decision win over [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (25-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) in a matchup of middleweight contenders.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 216.

UFC Fight Night 216 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: How much was paid in 2022 total?

UFC Fight Night 216 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 216 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $204,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC Fight Night 216 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 216 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Damir Ismagulov[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Alessandro Costa[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Cody Brundage[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Cory McKenna[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Cheyanne Vlismas[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Matthew Semelsberger[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jake Matthews[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Said Nurmagomedov[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Saidyokub Kakhramonov[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Rafa Garcia[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Hayisaer Maheshate[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Rinat Fakhretdinov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Bryan Battle[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]David Dvorak[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Sergey Morozov[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Journey Newson[/autotag]: $4,500

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2167 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2161 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $8,351,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $14,529,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 216.

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UFC Fight Night 216 video: Hear from each winner backstage

Check out what the UFC Fight Night 216 winners had to say backstage at Saturday’s event.

LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 216 takes place Saturday with 13 bouts on the lineup. We’ve got you covered with backstage winner interviews from the UFC Apex.

You can hear from all the UFC Fight Night 216 winners by checking out their post-fight news conferences below.

UFC Fight Night 216: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Damir Ismagulov odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 216 odds and lines between Arman Tsarukyan vs. Damir Ismagulov, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a lightweight bout on the main card, Arman Tsarukyan and Damir Ismagulov meet Saturday at UFC Fight Night 216 — also known as UFC Vegas 66 — at the UFC’s APEX Facility in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the UFC Fight Night 216: Tsarukyan vs. Ismagulov odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims are set to begin at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+ with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

Tsarukyan was on the short end of a unanimous decision in a tremendous fight in the main event against Mateusz Gamrot in late June, snapping a 5-bout win streak. Five of his 7 bouts since arriving at the UFC level have gone the distance.

Ismagulov is a perfect 5-for-5 since arriving at the UFC level, including a split-decision win over Guram Kutateladze last time out in mid-June. Seven of his last 8 bouts have ended with the judges determining a winner.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC Fight Night 216: Tsarukyan vs. Ismagulov odds

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:34 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Tsarukyan -200 (bet $200 to win $100) | Ismagulov +165 (bet $100 to win $165)
  • Over/Under: 2.5 rounds (Over -280 | Under +190)
  • Fight to go the distance: Yes (-260) | No (+180)

Claim your risk-free bet up to $350. Catch the excitement and start betting with Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Bet now!

UFC Fight Night 216: Tsarukyan vs. Ismagulov picks and predictions

Records: Tsarukyan (18-3-0) | Ismagulov (24-1-0)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Tsarukyan (-200) will cost you 2 times your potential return, and that’s a little too risky against a guy who has lost just once in his entire professional career. Ismagulov has won all 5 of his fights since arriving at the UFC level — all decisions. However, he has mostly fought tomato cans.

Look for the Armenian fighter to get it done, so play TSARUKYAN ON POINTS (+122) at plus money for a much better value.

Over/Under (O/U)

Fight to go the distance: Yes (-260) is a little too expensive, costing more than 2 1/2 times your potential return.

While it’s a good bet this fight goes to the judges, there is no value to play the distance, or Over 2.5 Rounds (-280).

AVOID.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

Want action on this UFC fight or any other sports matchup? Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, SportsbookWire’s official sportsbook partner in CO and NJ. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

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UFC Fight Night 216 predictions: Jared Cannonier or Sean Strickland in 2022’s finale?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC Fight Night 216 card din Las Vegas, which features Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland.

Cannonier
vs.
Strickland
Ismagulov
vs.
Tsarukyan
Albazi
vs.
Costa
Caceres
vs.
Erosa
Dober
vs.
Green
Brundage
vs.
Oleksiejczuk
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
192-116
cannonier2022
Cannonier
(62%)
tsarukyan2022
Tsarukyan
(66%)
albazi2022
Albazi
(85%)
erosa2022
Erosa
(55%)
dober2022
Dober
(66%)
oleksiejczuk2022
Oleksiejczuk
(71%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
204-109
trophy copy 2018 Champion
cannonier2022
Cannonier
tsarukyan2022
Tsarukyan
albazi2022
Albazi
erosa2022
Erosa
dober2022
Dober
oleksiejczuk2022
Oleksiejczuk
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
195-118
cannonier2022
Cannonier
tsarukyan2022
Tsarukyan
albazi2022
Albazi
caceres2022
Caceres
dober2022
Dober
oleksiejczuk2022
Oleksiejczuk
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
193-120
cannonier2022
Cannonier
tsarukyan2022
Tsarukyan
albazi2022
Albazi
erosa2022
Erosa
green2022
Green
oleksiejczuk2022
Oleksiejczuk
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
191-122
cannonier2022
Cannonier
tsarukyan2022
Tsarukyan
albazi2022
Albazi
erosa2022
Erosa
dober2022
Dober
oleksiejczuk2022
Oleksiejczuk
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
191-122
trophy copy 2014 Champion
strickland2022
Strickland
tsarukyan2022
Tsarukyan
albazi2022
Albazi
erosa2022
Erosa
dober2022
Dober
brundage2022
Brundage
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
189-124
cannonier2022
Cannonier
ismagulov2022
Ismagulov
albazi2022
Albazi
caceres2022
Caceres
dober2022
Dober
oleksiejczuk2022
Oleksiejczuk
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
188-125
strickland2022
Strickland
tsarukyan2022
Tsarukyan
albazi2022
Albazi
erosa2022
Erosa
dober2022
Dober
oleksiejczuk2022
Oleksiejczuk
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
182-131
trophy copy 2017 Champion
strickland2022
Strickland
tsarukyan2022
Tsarukyan
albazi2022
Albazi
erosa2022
Erosa
green2022
Green
brundage2022
Brundage
Nolan King
@mma_kings
180-133
cannonier2022
Cannonier
tsarukyan2022
Tsarukyan
albazi2022
Albazi
caceres2022
Caceres
green2022
Green
oleksiejczuk2022
Oleksiejczuk
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
172-141
strickland2022
Strickland
tsarukyan2022
Tsarukyan
albazi2022
Albazi
erosa2022
Erosa
green2022
Green
brundage2022
Brundage
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
154-159
noanswer2022
N/A
noanswer2022
N/A
noanswer2022
N/A
noanswer2022
N/A
noanswer2022
N/A
noanswer2022
N/A

The UFC stays in its home base this week, and middleweights are atop the promotion’s final card of the year.

UFC Fight Night 216 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, recent title challenger [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) takes on [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (25-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC). The fight nearly is a pick’em at Tipico Sportsbook. Cannonier is the slight favorite at -115; the comeback on Strickland is -105. Our 10 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have Cannonier with a narrow 6-4 picks lead.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Damir Ismagulov[/autotag] (24-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) meets [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) at lightweight. Tsarukyan is a -190 betting favorite and a near-unanimous pick at 9-1.

Also on the main card, our lone unanimous pick is [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in his flyweight bout against [autotag]Alessandro Costa[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC). Albazi is the biggest favorite on the entire card at -450.

[autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag] (19-13 MMA, 14-11 UFC) takes on [autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag] (28-9 MMA, 6-5 UFC) in a featherweight fight. Erosa is a mild favorite at -170 and has a 7-3 lead in the picks.

[autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag] (25-11 MMA, 11-7 UFC) and [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] (29-13-1 MMA, 10-8-1 UFC) clash in a fight between longtime UFC lightweights. Dober is a -150 favorite, but he has just a slim 6-4 lead in the picks.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Cody Brundage[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) at middleweight. Oleksiejczuk is a big -280 favorite, but three of our pickers are taking Brundage in an upset.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Cannonier (62 percent), Tsarukyan (66 percent), Albazi (85 percent), Erosa (55 percent), Dober (66 percent) and Oleksiejczuk (71 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 216.

Damir Ismagulov hopes UFC Fight Night 216 bout vs. Arman Tsarukyan serves as springboard for bigger names

“I can show that this fight could be a trampoline for me to make sure that my career goes forward.”

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Damir Ismagulov[/autotag] is looking to capitalize on [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]’s name at UFC Fight Night 216.

Ismagulov (24-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) meets Tsarukyan (18-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

Both Ismagulov and Tsarukyan have struggled to draw top-ranked opponents but wound up getting matched up against each other. With Tsarukyan coming off a main event against Mateusz Gamrot in June, Ismagulov thinks a win will lead to more notoriety.

“This fight, for me, is very important, because now that the UFC is giving me such an opportunity, I can show that this fight could be a trampoline for me to make sure that my career goes forward,” Ismagulov told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at UFC Fight Night 216 media day on Wednesday.

He continued, “I was very interested in it right away because he’s a known name in America, he’s fought against Gamrot in a main event, so I think I was very interested right away. It’s good for me to fight an opponent like that.”

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Unbeaten in the UFC, Ismagulov is on a 19-fight winning streak. He holds solid wins over Thiago Moises and Guram Kutateladze but sees Tsarukyan as the name that will catapult him to the upper echelon of the division.

“With a victory over an opponent like Arman, I’ll be able to jump into the top 10, possibly the top five,” Ismagulov said. “And from now on, I’ll get opponents that I deserve, opponents that are more interesting to me. So I’m very much happy about this fight.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 216.

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UFC Fight Night 216 pre-event facts: Drew Dober can tie Dustin Poirier’s lightweight KO record

Check out the numbers behind UFC Fight Night 216, the promotion’s 2022 finale where Drew Dober could tie Dustin Poirier’s record for most lightweight knockouts.

The UFC will put a bow on its 2022 calendar Saturday with UFC Fight Night 216, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.

A matchup of middleweight contenders will mark the final UFC bout of the year. [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) and [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (25-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) will attempt to rebound from their July losses when they meet in a five-round bout that will put the winner back on the title path.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts for UFC Fight Night 216.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Sept. 26-Oct. 2)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from Sept. 26-Oct. 2.

Damir Ismagulov vs. Arman Tsarukyan targeted for UFC Fight Night on Dec. 17

A compelling matchup of lightweights Damir Ismagulov and Arman Tsarukyan has been added to the final UFC card of 2022.

A compelling matchup of lightweights [autotag]Damir Ismagulov[/autotag] and [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] has been added to the final UFC card of 2022.

Ismagulov (24-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) and Tsarukyan (18-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) have verbally agreed to a clash at UFC Fight Night on Dec. 17, a person with knowledge of the situation verified to MMA Junkie following an initial report from EuroSport Nederland.

The event takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Broadcast plans have not been revealed at this time.

Ismagulov, 31, has only fought five times since making his octagon debut in December 2018, but no one has been able to figure him out thus far. The Russian is currently on a 19-fight winning streak dating back to his sole career defeat in September 2015.

Tsarukyan, 25, meanwhile, will attempt to rebound from his first main event setback. After winning five-straight bouts at 155 pounds, the Russian lost a competitive unanimous decision to Mateusz Gamrot at UFC on ESPN 38 in June.

The latest lineup for UFC Fight Night on Dec. 17 includes:

  • Julian Marquez vs. Deron Winn
  • Tafon Nchukwi vs. Jamal Pogues
  • Sergey Morozov vs. Journey Newson
  • Amir Albazi vs. Alex Perez
  • Albert Duraev vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
  • Damir Ismagulov vs. Arman Tsarukyan

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