Scouting Report: Damir Ismagulov

Damir Ismagulov

Born: Feb. 3, 1991 (Age: 32) in Orenburg, Russia
Division: Lightweight
Height: 5’10”
Reach: 74”
Record: 24-2 (5-1 UFC)
Association: Boets MMA
Stage of Career: Prime

Summary: Ismagulov’s abilities are not superb or overwhelming enough to contend for a UFC championship, but they do make him a solid fighter who is exceedingly tough to beat. Ismagulov’s striking is based off a consistent jab and sound kicks to the legs and body, along with a potent left hook. Unfortunately, he lacks power in either hand to such an extent that opponents are rarely hurt even when he lands flush. Ismagulov features excellent movement and stellar defense—attributes that allow him to outpoint many adversaries. In terms of grappling, he offers decent takedowns in the clinch but nothing in the way of submissions. He sports mediocre ground-and-pound and limited top control. Still, those takedowns score points, and his other qualities make him difficult to outmaneuver in the grappling department. Ismagulov boasts outstanding takedown defense and excels at getting back to his feet whenever he does hit the mat. To top it all, he has a durable chin and tremendous cardio. Ismagulov may not have the tools needed to stop opponents at the highest level, but he can consistently win decisions against all but the best lightweights.

STRIKING

• Stance: Orthodox.
• Hand Speed: Average.
• Jab: His best strike, it is straight, technical, accurate and relatively sudden, and it carries some impact.
• Cross: Straight, accurate and technical, but it lacks power and fails to hurt opponents even when it connects perfectly.
• Left Hook: Thrown with a tight arc and rotation—he can also fire it to the body—but it is telegraphed.
• Overhand Right: Mediocre. It is technical and thrown with a nice arc, but it is telegraphed and inaccurate.
• Uppercuts: Rarely throws them.
• Solitary Striker or Volume Puncher: Throws a punch at a time outside of the occasional one-two.
• Favorite Combination(s): The one-two, which is harmonious and technical but suffers from the lack of power in his right hand.
• Leg Kicks: Technical and somewhat powerful, he uses them without telegraphing them.
• Body Kicks: Outstanding.
• Head Kicks: Rarely throws them.
• Chains Kicks to Punches: No.

Ismagulov is a credible but limited striker. His best weapon is his jab, a consistent weapon with which he can score again and again. He often throws a right cross behind it, but it lacks power. Even if it connects perfectly, it rarely does any damage. Ismagulov throws a decent left hook he can land to the head or body, but its telegraphed nature limits its effectiveness. His kicks to the legs and body are an underappreciated part of his arsenal. However, with little power in his dominant hand and average speed on his strikes, Ismagulov is generally relegated to outpointing opponents. Outstanding footwork and sound defense make him well-suited to do so.

CLINCH

• Physical Strength: A powerful, decently sized lightweight.
• Technique: Positions himself well with nice hips.
• Knees: He can score with them when an opponent is against the cage, but otherwise, he struggles to land them flush.
• Elbows: Sneaky good. He can connect with a hard right elbow when an opponent reaches for the clinch, but he has issues landing it in closer quarters.
• Defense Against Knees/Elbows: Vulnerable to elbows, which was especially evident against Kutateladze.

Ismagulov can secure takedowns from the clinch, but against a stellar wrestler like Arman Tsarukyan, he can be taken down himself. He also shows some vulnerability to elbows, though he features a right elbow strike of his own that can be dangerous with ideal separation. Ismagulov can drill opponents who wall walk with a well-timed knee but struggles to connect with it otherwise.

GRAPPLING

• Wrestling from a Shot: Slightly below average. He sometimes uses it as a means to get to a clinch. Ismagulov is flawed in this area, as he is often bent over at 90 degrees, reaching and aiming too low for the leg, which makes it difficult for him to control the hips. Plus, his efforts are often telegraphed.
• Wrestling in the Clinch: Uses an inside trip, outside trip and a single-leg with which he can secure repeated takedowns against lesser grapplers.
• Takedown Defense: Sound but not impenetrable. He was repeatedly grounded by Tsarukyan, showing he has some trouble in transitions from striking to grappling, or outstanding chain wrestling.
• Ability to Return to Feet: Utterly fantastic in every way, from his highly technical wall walks to building a base and standing with an opponent hovering over him. He even managed to get up against Tsarukyan, who had his back with a body triangle, and needed less than a minute to do so.
• Submissions: Practically non-existent.
• Defense/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from the Bottom: Showed tremendous technique when Tsarukyan took his back with a body triangle, as he did a phenomenal job of fighting the hands and loosening the feet.
• Top Control: Limited. Tsarukyan managed to sweep him from the mount almost instantly.
• Ground-and-Pound: Mediocre. Ismagulov can be easily tied up, which leaves him able to only throw the occasional arm punch and hammerfist. He occasionally gains separation against weaker opponents, at which point he can unleash clean right hands. However, they lack power. Ismagulov also uses old-school forearm strikes instead of true elbows.

Ismagulov’s grappling can be an effective weapon against lesser wrestlers. His takedowns from a shot are of little concern, but they can be quite potent in the clinch and include both types of trips and a single-leg. Once on top, Ismagulov struggles to maintain control and apply meaningful ground-and-pound, and he offers nothing in terms of submissions at the UFC level. Still, his ability to execute takedowns adds to his ability to win decisions. Ismagulov calls upon sound takedown defense, though it can be exploited by excellent wrestlers like Tsarukyan. He excels at getting back to his feet from practically any position.

INTANGIBLES

• Athleticism/General Physical Strength: Moves dynamically enough and operates as a physically strong lightweight.
• Cardio: Outstanding. Fights at a brisk pace, with plenty of movement, strikes and grappling, and he does not slow down at all across 15 minutes.
• Chin: He has never been knocked out and rarely looks hurt. It usually requires a powerful strike that lands flush to rattle him.
• Recuperative Powers: Ismagulov recovered well when hurt against Kutateladze.
• Intelligence: He does not make any major mistakes and still shows signs of improvement this far into his pro career.