Rivalries: Ryan Spann

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Ryan Spann hovers somewhere between the mid-card and contention in the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight division.

The 31-year-old Sayif Saud protégé will seek to improve upon a 6-2 record inside the promotion when he does battle with Dominick Reyes as part of the UFC 281 undercard on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. Spann has alternated wins and losses in each of his past four appearances. He last competed at UFC on ESPN 36, where he dispatched Ion Cutelaba with a guillotine choke in the first round of their May 14 confrontation.

As Spann makes final preparations for his upcoming showdown with Reyes, a look at a few of the rivalries that have helped shape his career to this point:

Karl Roberson

“Baby K” did optimal damage in a minimal amount of time, as he wrecked Ryan Spann with first-round elbows during Season 1 of Dana White’s Contender Series on July 25, 2017 at the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas. Roberson drew the curtain just 15 seconds into Round 1. Spann saw his initial takedown attempt denied. 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, as referee Jason Herzog moved in to rescue him from further punishment.

Alex Nicholson

Spann laid claim to the inaugural Legacy Fighting Alliance light heavyweight title when he put down “The Spartan” with punches 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. The favored Nicholson packed his bags 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.

Devin Clark

The surging Spann continued to establish himself as an emerging threat in the light heavyweight division when he submitted the “Brown Bear” with a guillotine choke in the second round of their featured UFC Fight Night 161 prelim on Oct. 12, 2019 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Clark raised the white flag 2:01 into Round 2. Spann did not show much interest in engaging throughout a tepid first round. He gathered strength in the second, dazed Clark with a sweeping left hook out of nowhere, flurried with punches and snapped down on the guillotine choke. Spann tightened his squeeze while his counterpart retreated to a kneeling position, the tapout following soon after.

Johnny Walker

The SBG Ireland export 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 brought it to a close 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 rep 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.

Anthony Smith

“Lionheart” blocked Spann’s path to the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s light heavyweight elite when he submitted the Texan with a rear-naked choke in the first round of their UFC Fight Night 192 headliner on Sept. 18, 2021 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. “Superman” conceded defeat 3:47 into Round 1. Smith floored the former Legacy Fighting Alliance champion with a left hook, jumped into top position and threatened with an armbar before returning to his feet. Once there, he staggered Spann with another left hook, folded him with a right cross and advanced to the back. Smith then secured his position, flattened out his adversary and snaked his arms in place for the fight-ending choke.