UFC Fight Night 216: Cannonier vs. Strickland | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Conor McBragger
- May 22
- 5 min read
Introduction
UFC Fight Night 216: Cannonier vs. Strickland took place on December 17, 2022 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas — UFC Vegas 66 — and served as the final UFC event of 2022. The main event was a middleweight five-round contest between former title challenger Jared Cannonier and Sean Strickland, both looking to re-establish themselves as legitimate contenders following losses to champion Alex Pereira.
Cannonier won a close, competitive split decision (49-46, 46-49, 49-46) to close out the year. The real action highlight was Drew Dober vs. Bobby Green — one of the bloodiest and most brutal fights of the entire year, earning Fight of the Night. The card featured 13 bouts, including an unorthodox ninja choke submission by Said Nurmagomedov and a stunning head kick KO by Alex Caceres.
Contents
Quick Stats
📅 Date: Saturday, December 17, 2022 — Final UFC event of 2022
📍 Venue: UFC Apex, Enterprise, Nevada, USA (UFC Vegas 66)
📺 Broadcast: ESPN+ (UFC on ESPN+ 74)
🏆 Main Event: Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland — Middleweight (5 rounds)
✅ Result: Jared Cannonier def. Sean Strickland via Split Decision (49-46, 46-49, 49-46) (Round 5, 5:00)
⭐ Notable: Final UFC card of 2022 | Dober vs. Green bloodbath FotN | Dober ties Poirier’s KO record | Said Nurmagomedov ninja choke | Caceres head kick KO PoN | Tsarukyan dominant UD in co-main
The Build-Up
This fight was originally scheduled for FN 212 in October but was pushed back after Strickland withdrew due to a finger infection. Both fighters entered the year-ending main event with championship aspirations. Cannonier had challenged Israel Adesanya for the title at UFC 276 in July and lost; Strickland had been brutally KO’d by Alex Pereira at UFC 276 on the same card. The winner would remain in the title conversation heading into 2023.
The co-main event was arguably even more significant: Arman Tsarukyan, one of the most hyped lightweight prospects in the world, faced unbeaten Damir Ismagulov. The 13-fight card was a strong way to close out a remarkable year.
Main Event: Cannonier vs. Strickland
The final fight of 2022 was a tactical, closely contested five-round battle. Both men started cautiously, feeling each other out with jabs and low kicks. Cannonier used his power and body work effectively in the middle rounds, while Strickland relied on his volume and forward pressure to stay competitive.
Neither man was dominant enough for a clear result, and the scorecards reflected the closeness: 49-46 Cannonier, 46-49 Strickland, 49-46 Cannonier — a split decision for Cannonier. It wasn’t the explosive finish the year-ending card might have hoped for, but it was an appropriate reflection of two evenly-matched veterans leaving nothing on the table.
Co-Main & Undercard Highlights
Arman Tsarukyan dominated Damir Ismagulov with a shutout unanimous decision (30-27 x3) in the co-main event, extending his case as one of the most complete fighters in the lightweight division. Drew Dober vs. Bobby Green was the action highlight of the night — a brutal, bloody three-round war that earned Fight of the Night. Post-event facts confirmed Dober tied Dustin Poirier’s knockout record.
Alex Caceres earned a Performance of the Night bonus with a stunning head kick KO of Julian Erosa — remarkable given Caceres’ reputation as a grappler. Michał Oleksiejczuk also earned a PoN for his finish of Cody Brundage. Said Nurmagomedov submitted Saidyokub Kakhramonov with a modified guillotine (ninja choke) at 3:50 of round two — one of the most unusual submissions of the year.
Full Results
Main Card
Jared Cannonier def. Sean Strickland — Decision (Split) (Round 5, 5:00) | 49-46, 46-49, 49-46 | Final fight of 2022
Arman Tsarukyan def. Damir Ismagulov — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3) | 30-27 x3 | Dominant shutout
Amir Albazi def. Alessandro Costa — Result
Alex Caceres def. Julian Erosa — KO (Head Kick) — Performance of the Night | Stunning finish from a grappler
Drew Dober vs. Bobby Green — Fight of the Night ($50,000 each) | One of the bloodiest fights of 2022 | Dober ties Poirier’s KO record
Michał Oleksiejczuk def. Cody Brundage — Finish — Performance of the Night
Preliminary Card
Said Nurmagomedov def. Saidyokub Kakhramonov — Submission (Modified Guillotine/Ninja Choke) (Round 2, 3:50) | One of most unusual subs of 2022
Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Bryan Battle — UD (30-25 x2, 30-27) R3; Manel Kape def. David Dvorak — UD R3; Rafa Garcia def. Maheshate — UD R3; Cory McKenna def. Cheyanne Vlismas; Matthew Semelsberger def. Jake Matthews; Sergey Morozov def. Journey Newson — UD R3
Bonuses & Awards
🥊 Fight of the Night: Drew Dober vs. Bobby Green ($50,000 each) — One of the bloodiest fights of 2022
🏆 Performance of the Night: Alex Caceres ($50,000) — KO (Head Kick) of Julian Erosa
🏆 Performance of the Night: Michał Oleksiejczuk ($50,000) — Finish of Cody Brundage
Records & Milestones
🥊 Drew Dober tied Dustin Poirier’s record for most knockouts in the lightweight division — a statistic that placed him among the most dangerous finishers at 155 pounds.
🥊 Said Nurmagomedov’s modified guillotine (ninja choke) was one of the most unique submissions of the year. The technique requires precise timing and positioning, and its application in a UFC fight highlighted the growing diversity of submission techniques at the highest level.
🥊 FN 216 was the 47th and final UFC event of 2022, closing out a year that saw the promotion debut in France, crown new champions, and produce some of the most memorable finishes in the sport’s history.
Legacy & Impact
UFC Fight Night 216 was a fitting curtain call for 2022. The main event was competitive but not definitive — a reflection of two middleweights who were close enough in skill that five rounds couldn’t cleanly separate them. Strickland, famously, would go on to shock the world in 2023 by defeating Sean Strickland... wait — by defeating Alex Pereira for the middleweight championship at UFC 297, turning his loss here into a footnote on a remarkable redemption arc.
The true legacy of this card is the undercard action: Dober-Green’s war, Caceres’ head kick, Nurmagomedov’s ninja choke, and Tsarukyan’s dominance. Together, they closed the 2022 UFC calendar with a statement about the depth of talent across the roster.
FAQ
Was this really the last UFC event of 2022?
Yes. UFC Fight Night 216 on December 17, 2022 was the final UFC event of the year. The promotion held no events between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, making the Cannonier vs. Strickland card the official closer for 2022.
What record did Drew Dober tie?
Drew Dober tied Dustin Poirier’s record for most knockouts in the UFC lightweight division. His brutal performance against Bobby Green in their Fight of the Night war added another KO to his already impressive tally at 155 pounds.
What is a ninja choke?
A ninja choke is a variation of the guillotine choke applied from a modified position — typically catching the opponent’s neck while transitioning around the body. Said Nurmagomedov used this rare technique to submit Saidyokub Kakhramonov at 3:50 of round two, producing one of the most technically interesting finishes of 2022.
References
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