5 Defining Moments: Ryan Spann

Ryan Spann still hovers in the space that exists between contenders and gatekeepers in the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight division.

The Fortis MMA rep will attempt to improve upon a 7-3 record inside the Octagon when he rematches Anthony Smith—a man who submitted him a little less than two years ago—in the UFC Fight Night 225 co-main event on Saturday at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. Spann enters the cage having won two of his past three bouts. He last appeared at UFC Fight Night 221, where he succumbed to a triangle choke from Misha Cirkunov in the first round of their March 11 pairing.

As Spann closes in on his second encounter with Smith at 205 pounds, a look at five of the many moments that have come to define him:

1. Early Dismissal

Karl Roberson did optimal damage in a minimal amount of time when the Cage Fury Fighting Championships veteran wrecked Spann with first-round elbows during Week 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series on July 25, 2017 at the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas. The undefeated Roberson drew the curtain a mere 15 seconds into Round 1. Spann saw his initial takedown attempt denied, then ran into immediate disaster. Roberson braced himself against the cage, created space with an underhook and blasted away with short elbows until his counterpart was no longer standing. Spann collapsed to the canvas, as referee Jason Herzog moved in to rescue him from further punishment.

2. Rallying Point

Spann walked away with the vacant Legacy Fighting Alliance light heavyweight championship, as he punched out Alex Nicholson in the first round of their LFA 32 co-main event on Jan. 26, 2018 at the Golden Nugget Casino Hotel in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Nicholson checked out 4:24 into Round 1. Spann waded through serious adversity to reach his desired goal. Nicholson fought through takedown attempts, powered into top position and cut loose with damaging ground-and-pound in a bid to sprint to the finish line. His elbows spilled blood but failed to bring about a desired result. Spann somehow survived, built a base and returned to his feet late in the round, at which point he floored the Floridian with a clean one-two. Nicholson hit the deck in a dazed state and ate several hammerfists before the stoppage was called.

3. A Ticket to Ride

“Superman” dispatched Nova Uniao standout Emiliano Sordi with a first-round guillotine choke during Week 2 of Dana White’s Contender Series on June 19, 2018 at the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas. Sordi conceded defeat 26 seconds into Round 1. Spann sent the Argentinian reeling backward with a crisp right hand, shut down his bid to scramble and caught the guillotine. Sordi tried briefly to free himself, tapped and then lost consciousness before referee Mark Smith could arrive on the scene. Spann was one of four fighters to receive UFC contracts on the episode, along with Anthony Hernandez, Matt Sayles and Dwight Grant.

4. B-Side to Chaos

SBG Ireland’s Johnny Walker put away Spann with elbows and punches in the first round of their UFC Fight Night 178 light heavyweight showcase on Sept. 19, 2020 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Walker closed it out 2:43 into Round 1. It was chaotic while it lasted. Spann floored the Brazilian with a clean counter left hook, gave chase with punches and advanced to full mount, a potential finish within reach. Walker escaped to his feet and staggered the Fortis MMA export with a clubbing right hand. A dazed Spann shot for a takedown, left himself exposed and absorbed a series of hammerfists and elbows—some of them appeared to stray to the back of the head—that prompted referee Dan Miragliotta to act.

5. No Sweat

Spann took care of former light heavyweight title contender Dominick Reyes with first-round punches as part of the UFC 281 undercard on Nov. 12, 2022 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The stoppage was called 1:20 into Round 1. Reyes had no answer for the heavy artillery being lobbed in his direction. Spann knocked the Teixeira MMA export off-balance, threatened with a guillotine choke and drifted back into open space. He caught Reyes moving forward with a crushing short left hook that folded the Stony Brook University graduate where he stood. Spann then took aim on his fallen opponent with a driving downward punch before referee Marc Goddard could arrive on the scene.