LAS VEGAS – UFC caps off 2022 with another exciting event at UFC Apex that will be headlined by a pair of thrilling strikers as No. 3-ranked middleweight contender Jared Cannonier collides with No. 7 Sean Strickland. Also on the card, rising lightweight contenders lock horns as No. 9-ranked Arman Tsarukyan faces No. 12 Damir Ismagulov.  

“UFC Fight Night 216: Cannonier vs. Strickland” will take place Saturday, December 17 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET and the prelims at 4 p.m. ET.

Former middleweight title challenger Cannonier (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) returns to the octagon aiming to make a statement to the division. A former heavyweight and 205-pound standout, Cannonier found his groove at 185-pounds where he has finished all but one of his wins by knockout, including victories over Anderson Silva, Derek Brunson and Kelvin Gastelum. He now sets out to defend his spot in the rankings and reinsert himself into the championship conversation.

Strickland (25-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) looks to break into the middleweight top 5 for the first time in his career. A volume striker with relentless pressure, he has entertained fans with wins over Jack Hermansson, Uriah Hall and Brendan Allen. Strickland now intends to make the most of his third UFC main event by becoming the first middleweight to stop Cannonier.

Rising star Tsarukyan (18-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) seeks to end the year on a high note and begin his run for title contention. A Master of Sports in MMA and freestyle wrestling, Tsarukyan has established himself as one of the top prospects on the UFC roster with victories over Joel Alvarez, Christos Giagos and Davi Ramos. He now plans to hand Ismagulov his first UFC loss in dominant fashion. 

Ismagulov (24-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) has his sights set on breaking into the top 10 for the first time if he can score the biggest win of his UFC career. Currently on an impressive 19-fight win streak, he earned his spot in the rankings with victories over Guram Kutateladze, Rafael Alves and Thiago Moises. Ismagulov now aims to secure his first UFC finish and declare himself as the next top contender in the division.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 8-ranked flyweight contender Amir Albazi (15-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) looks to spoil the UFC debut of Dana White’s Contender Series veteran Alessandro Costa (12-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC)

• No. 15-ranked featherweight contender Alex Caceres (19-13 MMA, 14-11 UFC) squares off with the always exciting Julian Erosa (28-9 MMA, 6-5 UFC)

• No. 9-ranked flyweight contender David Dvorak (20-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) steps into the octagon to defend his spot in the rankings against No. 12 Manel Kape (17-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC)

• Drew Dober (25-11 MMA, 11-7 UFC) meets Bobby Green (29-13-1 MMA, 10-8-1 UFC) in a battle of lightweight veterans

• Cody Brundage (8-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) faces Michal Oleksiejczuk (17-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) at middleweight

• Rising strawweight contenders collide as Cheyanne Vlismas (7-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) takes on Cory McKenna (7-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC)

• Jake Matthews (18-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) plans to remain undefeated in 2022 as he matches up with Matthew Semelsberger (10-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) at welterweight

• An exciting middleweight bout sees Julian Marquez (9-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) and Deron Winn (7-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) collide

• Said Nurmagomedov (16-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) and Saidyokub Kakhramonov (10-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) face off at bantamweight

• “The Ultimate Fighter” season 29 middleweight winner Bryan Battle (8-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) returns to 170-pounds seeking another highlight-reel KO against Rinat Fakhretdinov (20-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC)

• Lightweights Rafa Garcia (14-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) and Maheshate (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) look to steal the show

• Sergey Morozov (18-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) looks to make a statement against Journey Newson (10-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) in a bantamweight bout