Ryan Spann

He currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division in 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 December 12, 2023, he is #11 in the UFC light heavyweight rankings.

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

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: Santos vs. Anders, 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: Joanna vs. Waterson. 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. Despite dropping Walker twice in the first round, Spann would go onto lose the fight via knockout.

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.

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.

Mixed martial arts

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Misha Cirkunov and Ion Cuțelaba
• Legacy Fighting Alliance
  • LFA Light Heavyweight Championship (One time) vs. Alex Nicholson.
• Hero FC
  • Hero FC Middleweight Championship (One time; former)

• List of current UFC fighters
• List of male mixed martial artists