Preview: UFC Fight Night 178 Main Card

Light Heavyweights

Johnny Walker (17-5) vs. Ryan Spann (18-5)

ODDS: Walker (-120), Spann (+100)

Walker’s UFC career has been an absolute rollercoaster. Based on his appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series, the Brazilian figured to be an entertaining fighter if nothing else, owing to his offbeat charisma and flashy kickboxing style. However, it was still a shock when, upon starting his UFC career proper, Walker took the light heavyweight division by storm. Walker needed less than two minutes to knock out Khalil Rountree cold, then used a spinning backfist and a flying knee to take out Justin Ledet and Misha Cirkunov in less than a minute combined. Naturally, Walker injured himself while celebrating the Cirkunov win, and a debate ensued during his time on the shelf: Was Walker a boom-or-bust fighter that happened to get lucky, or was he just the type of flawed and process-devoid athlete who could succeed in the strange waters at 205 pounds? Early returns are not that promising since Walker came back. Corey Anderson quickly dismissed Walker, and his last fight saw Misha Cirkunov outwrestle him in a shockingly flaccid affair. He will look to recapture some of his magic here against Spann, who has quietly gone undefeated in his own rise through the light heavyweight ranks. Spann has some plus athleticism and some solid skills, but his decision making has been quite questionable; there have been moments against Devin Clark and Sam Alvey where Spann could press the action and likely get a knockout, but “Superman” seemed content to use some clinch work to turn his fights into difficult grinds. The whole package feels somewhat aimless, but Spann has enough in terms of natural skill—and the light heavyweight division has enough flawed fighters—that he has managed to make it into the Top 15 anyway. That means Walker is at least going to get a willing opponent for him to score a finish, which is half the battle. From there, it becomes a coinflip as to whether or not the Brazilian’s random bursts of offense actually work. The pick is Walker via first-round knockout.

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