Ryan Spann

Ryan Jamari Spann (born August 24, 1991) is an American mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2013, he has also fought for the Legacy Fighting Alliance, where he was the Light Heavyweight Champion. As of June 20, 2026, he is #15 in the Meta UFC heavyweight rankings.

Background Spann grew up in Westwood, Memphis, Tennessee, and began training martial arts in his early childhood.

Mixed martial arts career Early career After compiling a 3–1 amateur record as a Middleweight and Welterweight, Spann started his professional career in 2013. He fought under various promotions, notably the regional Legacy Fighting Championship and Legacy Fighting Alliance where he was the Light Heavyweight Champion. He amassed a record of 13-5 prior participated in Dana White's Contender Series.

Dana White's Contender Series

Spann appeared in Dana White's Contender Series 3 on July 25, 2017, against Karl Roberson. He lost the fight by knockout due to elbows in round one.

Spann's second appearance in Dana White's Contender Series 10 came on June 19, 2018, against Emiliano Sordi. He won the fight via guillotine choke in round one and he was awarded a UFC contract.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Spann made his UFC debut on September 22, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 137, facing Luis Henrique, replacing an injured Mark Godbeer. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Spann's second UFC fight came on 11 May 2019, 2019 at UFC 237 against Antônio Rogério Nogueira. He won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Spann faced Devin Clark on October 12, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 161. He won the fight via submission in round two.

Spann was briefly linked to face Ovince Saint Preux on February 8, 2020, at UFC 247. However, promotion matchmakers elected to go in another direction and the pairing was scrapped from the event. Instead, Spann was booked against Paul Craig on March 21, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Edwards. However, the event was cancelled.

Spann faced Sam Alvey May 9, 2020, at UFC 249. Despite getting knocked down in the third round, Spann won the fight via split decision.

Spann was initially scheduled to face Johnny Walker at UFC Fight Night 176 on September 5, 2020. However, Walker tested positive for COVID-19 and the bout was postponed to September 19, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 178.

Spann was expected to face Misha Cirkunov on December 19, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 183. However, Cirkunov pulled out in early December due to an injury. The fight was rescheduled to March 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 187. After initially knocking Cirkunov down during the first minute, Spann won the fight via technical knockout in round one. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Spann faced Anthony Smith on September 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 192. He lost the fight via rear-naked choke submission in round one.

Spann was scheduled to face Ion Cuțelaba on February 26, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 202. However, Spann was pulled from the event due to injury and the bout was rescheduled for UFC on ESPN 36. He won the bout via guillotine choke in the first round. The win earned Spann his second Performance of the Night bonus award.

Spann faced Dominick Reyes on November 12, 2022, at UFC 281. At the weigh-ins, Spann weighed in at 206.6 pounds, six tenths of a pound over the light heavyweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight with Spann fined 20% of his purse, which went to his opponent Reyes. He won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Spann was scheduled to face Nikita Krylov on February 25, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 220. However, the day of the event, Krylov fell ill to a food-borne illness and the main event was cancelled and the pair was rescheduled to meet at UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili two weeks later. He lost the fight via a triangle choke submission in the first round.

Spann faced Anthony Smith in a rematch on August 26, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 225. He lost the close bout via split decision. 9 out of 14 media outlets scored the bout for Spann.

Spann faced Bogdan Guskov on April 27, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 55 He lost the fight via technical knockout as a result of ground-and-pound punches.

Spann was scheduled to face Ovince Saint Preux on September 7, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 242. However, Saint Preux withdrew from the fight due to an illness and the bout was moved to October 5, 2024 at UFC 307 as a result. Spann won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the first round. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

Spann faced former LFA Heavyweight Champion Waldo Cortes-Acosta in a heavyweight bout on March 15, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 254. He lost the fight by knockout in the second round.

Spann faced Łukasz Brzeski on July 19, 2025 at UFC 318. He won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the first round.

Spann was reportedly scheduled to face Valter Walker on October 11, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 261. However, the bout did not come to fruition and it was later reported that Walker would instead face Mohammed Usman, although that bout later did not materialize either.

Spann was scheduled to face Rizvan Kuniev on February 7, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 266. However, Spann withdrew for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Jailton Almeida.

Spann faced Marcus Buchecha on April 25, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 274. He won the fight via knockout in round two. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Spann is scheduled to face Mário Pinto on September 5, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 287.

Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (Four times)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Marcus Buchecha KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Łukasz Brzeski Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 318

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Loss

Waldo Cortes-Acosta KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Ovince Saint Preux Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 307

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Loss

Bogdan Guskov TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Nicolau vs. Perez

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Anthony Smith Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie

Kallang, Singapore Loss

Nikita Krylov Submission (triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Dominick Reyes KO (punches) UFC 281

New York City, New York, United States Win

Ion Cuțelaba Submission (guillotine choke) UFC on ESPN: Błachowicz vs. Rakić

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Anthony Smith Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Misha Cirkunov TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Johnny Walker KO (elbows and punches) UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Sam Alvey Decision (split) UFC 249

Jacksonville, Florida, United States Win

Devin Clark Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson

Tampa, Florida, United States Win

Antônio Rogério Nogueira KO (punches) UFC 237

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Luis Henrique Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Emiliano Sordi Submission (guillotine choke) Dana White's Contender Series 10

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Alex Nicholson KO (punches) LFA 32

Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States Win

Myron Dennis KO (punches) LFA 27

Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States Win

LeMarcus Tucker Submission (rear-naked choke) LFA 23

Bossier City, Louisiana, United States Loss

Karl Roberson KO (elbows) Dana White's Contender Series 3

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Roman Pizzolato Submission (guillotine choke) World FC 72

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States Loss

Trevin Giles Decision (split) LFA 3

Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States Loss

Robert Drysdale Submission (rear-naked choke) Legacy FC 58

Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States Win

Aaron Davis Submission (guillotine choke) Legacy FC 52

Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States Loss

Leo Leite Decision (unanimous) Legacy FC 48

Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States Win

Larry Crowe KO (punches) Legacy FC 42

Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States Win

Dwight Gipson Submission (guillotine choke) Vengeance Fighting Alliance: Round 5

Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States Win

Artenas Young Submission (guillotine choke) Fury FC 4

Humble, Texas, United States Loss

Brandon Farran TKO (punches) Hero FC: Best of the Best 3

Brownsville, Texas, United States Win

Randy McCarty Decision (unanimous) Hero FC: Best of the Best 1

Harlingen, Texas, United States Win

Jhonoven Pati Submission (guillotine choke) Hero FC: Texas Pride

Beaumont, Texas, United States Win

Brandon Atkins Submission (guillotine choke) Hero FC: Pride of the Valley 2

Pharr, Texas, United States Win

Steven Zamora Submission (rear-naked choke) El Orgullo del Valle

Pharr, Texas, United States Win

Aaron Lebrun Submission (rear-naked choke) Vengeance Fighting Alliance: Round 1

Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States