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Heavyweight · “Superman”

Ryan Spann

24-11-0 UFC 10-7-0
One-Punch Power Submission Efficiency Finisher Taken Down Often
6'5"Height
79"Reach
OrthodoxStance
35Age
4KO wins
4Sub wins
80.0%Finish rate
6:09Avg fight

Skill profile

Rated 0–100 against every UFC veteran · the rim is reserved for specialists, and only efficiency opens it
Striking — Below avg, rated 41.2 of 100 Accuracy — Weak, rated 18.1 of 100 Striking D — Weak, rated 10.1 of 100 Durability — Weak, rated 19.0 of 100 Wrestling — Average, rated 50.5 of 100 TD Defense — Weak, rated 15.5 of 100 Grappling — Strong, rated 85.3 of 100 Control — Average, rated 60.9 of 100 Striking Accuracy Striking D Durability Wrestling TD Defense Grappling Control
striking decent
2 analyst reads graded this phase
  • decent UFC Fight Night: Parnasse vs. Hooker · August 29, 2026 watch ↗
  • decent UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal · April 19, 2026 watch ↗
grappling decent
1 analyst read graded this phase
  • decent UFC Fight Night: Parnasse vs. Hooker · August 29, 2026 watch ↗
wrestling not yet read
cardio not yet read
durability poor
1 analyst read graded this phase
striking decent 2 reads
grappling decent 1 read
wrestling not yet read
cardio not yet read
durability poor 1 read
One-Punch Power 6 knockdowns · 0.86 per 15 min
Submission Efficiency 4 submission wins from 11 attempts
Finisher 80% of wins by knockout or submission (4 KO, 4 sub)
Taken Down Often put on his back 19 times · 2.7 per 15 min
Career rates — the raw numbers behind the chart
Sig. strikes landed / min3.03
Sig. strikes absorbed / min4.09
Striking accuracy39.4%
Striking defense42.2%
Knockdowns / 15 min0.86
Takedowns / 15 min1.15
Takedown accuracy33.3%
Takedown defense50.0%
Sub attempts / 15 min1.58
Control time22.5%
Record vs .500+ opponents6-6

Insider info

3 analyst reads · 138 MMA · our paraphrase, never his words
Mario Pinto favored — picked against Ryan Spann clear UFC Fight Night: Parnasse vs. Hooker · August 29, 2026
strikingdecent grapplingdecent durabilitypoor

He lays out a clean if-then case -- Spann needs an early finish or the fight tilts toward Pinto -- and states flatly that he doesn't expect that early finish, landing on Pinto without any real hedging.

Spann is a fast, highly athletic starter the analyst clearly remembers well from past showings -- a decent striker who carries real power and likes to come forward aggressively. The catch is that he throws mostly single strikes rather than combinations, which the analyst says makes it tough to generate consistent success unless one of those shots lands clean. His grappling is rated merely decent overall, but he owns a genuinely good front choke with a tight, dangerous squeeze -- the problem is he doesn't set it up proactively, so it mostly becomes live if a foe telegraphs a takedown attempt and fumbles it.

StrengthExplosive, athletic starter who pushes the pace early and carries real one-shot power
StrengthFront choke submission is a legitimate weapon, built around an unusually tight squeeze once he locks it in
WeaknessRelies mostly on single strikes instead of combinations, which the analyst says caps his output unless one shot happens to land clean
WeaknessDoesn't proactively set up his best submission -- it's mostly a bonus off an opponent's careless shot rather than something he actively hunts
WeaknessAnalyst treats time itself as working against him here -- a longer fight is expected to swing the advantage to his opponent, and he isn't seen as likely to force the early finish he'd need
ko power · goodsub threat · good
Marcus Buchecha favored — picked against Ryan Spann lean UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal · April 19, 2026 · 1 read since
strikingdecent durabilitypoor

Picked against, with the analyst citing a well-established career pattern of falling apart once he's past the opening minutes of round one.

Fast out of the gate and legitimately dangerous in the opening moments, with plenty of natural athleticism. His striking is fine -- heavy-handed, though he tends to fire single punches rather than stringing combos together. On the mat he's serviceable, with a front choke that's genuinely dangerous and clamps down hard once it's locked in. The larger story of his career is a clear pattern: he needs to end the fight within the first minute or two, usually with a standing or jumping guillotine, because if the fight goes beyond that opening window he typically unravels and loses -- wins past that point are rare.

Strengthheavy hands, highly athletic and dangerous in the early going
Strengthdangerous, fast-clamping front choke as an early finishing tool
Weaknesstends to unravel and lose if he can't close the show in the first minute or two of round one
ko power · goodsub threat · goodpace · fast starter
Dominick Reyes favored — picked against Ryan Spann clear UFC 281 · November 8, 2022 · 2 reads since
durabilitypoor

The analyst is fairly confident against Spann here, acknowledging his power gives him a puncher's chance but rating the opponent clearly ahead skill-for-skill.

Spann is a size-and-power outlier at light heavyweight — a legitimately massive frame with real knockout power and finishing ability on the feet or via a choke. But his output comes with real fragility: he doesn't handle pressure well mentally, tends to unravel once pushed backward, and has shown he can be hurt himself. It's boom-or-bust offense wrapped around a shaky foundation.

Strengthhuge size and reach for the division
Strengthone-shot knockout power
Strengthsubmission finishing ability
Weaknessstruggles against sustained pressure
Weaknessdurability concerns
Weaknessinconsistent fight to fight
ko power · highchin · questionable

Striking trend

Sig. strikes/min, last 8 fights · green = win
March 11, 2023 vs Nikita Krylov — 1.38/min (L) — only 3.6 min of tape, so this rate reflects how fast the fight ended more than how he fought Mar '23 August 26, 2023 vs Anthony Smith — 3.93/min (L) Aug '23 April 27, 2024 vs Bogdan Guskov — 1.81/min (L) Apr '24 October 5, 2024 vs Ovince Saint Preux — 5.68/min (W) — only 1.6 min of tape, so this rate reflects how fast the fight ended more than how he fought Oct '24 March 15, 2025 vs Waldo Cortes Acosta — 2.35/min (L) Mar '25 July 19, 2025 vs Lukasz Brzeski — 2.87/min (W) — only 2.8 min of tape, so this rate reflects how fast the fight ended more than how he fought Jul '25 April 25, 2026 vs Marcus Buchecha — 2.09/min (W) Apr '26 September 5, 2026 vs Mario Pinto — 2.2/min (L) Sep '26

Fight history

17 UFC bouts · newest first · opponent records as of fight night
L Mario Pinto 11-0 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 0:55 — UFC Fight Night: Hooker vs. Parnasse · September 5, 2026
13/34Sig. strikes
48/67Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
0:20Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Marcus Buchecha 5-2-1 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 2:10 — UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal · April 25, 2026
15/27Sig. strikes
8/13Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
2:56Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Lukasz Brzeski 1-5 walk-in Submission · R1 2:47 — UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 · July 19, 2025
8/19Sig. strikes
5/8Absorbed
1/1Takedowns
2:14Control
0Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
L Waldo Cortes Acosta 12-1 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 4:48 — UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2 · March 15, 2025
23/86Sig. strikes
66/111Absorbed
0/2Takedowns
0:05Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Ovince Saint Preux 27-17 walk-in Submission · R1 1:35 — UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Jr. · October 5, 2024
9/20Sig. strikes
7/10Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:03Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
L Bogdan Guskov 15-3 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 3:16 — UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perez · April 27, 2024
15/38Sig. strikes
31/48Absorbed
1/3Takedowns
3:29Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
L Anthony Smith 36-18 walk-in Decision - Split · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie · August 26, 2023
59/187Sig. strikes
91/147Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
1:19Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Nikita Krylov 29-9 walk-in Submission · R1 3:38 — UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili · March 11, 2023
5/11Sig. strikes
7/12Absorbed
1/2Takedowns
0:32Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Dominick Reyes 12-3 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 1:20 — UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira · November 12, 2022
8/17Sig. strikes
5/12Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
0:03Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Ion Cutelaba 16-6-1 walk-in Submission · R1 2:22 — UFC Fight Night: Blachowicz vs. Rakic · May 14, 2022
4/11Sig. strikes
2/9Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:04Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
L Anthony Smith 35-16 walk-in Submission · R1 3:47 — UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann · September 18, 2021
8/20Sig. strikes
17/28Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
0:30Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Misha Cirkunov 15-5 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 1:11 — UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad · March 13, 2021
16/29Sig. strikes
5/18Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:13Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Johnny Walker 17-5 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 2:43 — UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley · September 19, 2020
7/13Sig. strikes
26/30Absorbed
2/2Takedowns
1:46Control
2Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Sam Alvey 33-13 walk-in Decision - Split · R3 5:00 — UFC 249: Ferguson vs. Gaethje · May 9, 2020
51/115Sig. strikes
57/108Absorbed
2/7Takedowns
3:01Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Devin Clark 10-3 walk-in Submission · R2 2:01 — UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson · October 12, 2019
17/48Sig. strikes
17/37Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
1:08Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Rogerio Nogueira 23-8 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 2:07 — UFC 237: Namajunas vs. Andrade · May 11, 2019
13/32Sig. strikes
6/24Absorbed
1/2Takedowns
0:44Control
1Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Luis Henrique 10-4 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Marreta vs. Anders · September 22, 2018
46/97Sig. strikes
30/59Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
5:07Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts

Walk-in records count UFC bouts in this database. For the pre-UFC career, see the record breakdown below or the Tapology button up top.

Record breakdown

Full pro career (Wikipedia, results only)
24-11-0Pro record
Fortis MMAGym / team

Wins by method

KO/TKO 7
Submission 14
Decision 3
Other 0

Losses by method

KO/TKO 5
Submission 3
Decision 3
Other 0

Fights by organization

UFC 16
LFA 4
Legacy FC 4
Hero FC 4
Dana White's Contender Series 2
Vengeance Fighting Alliance 2
World FC 1
Fury FC 1

+ 1 more organizations in the full career list

Full career — 35 fights, every organization
OpponentMethodEventOrg RdTime
W Marcus Buchecha KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal
April 25, 2026
UFC 2 2:10
W Łukasz Brzeski Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 318
July 19, 2025
UFC 1 2:37
L Waldo Cortes-Acosta KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2
March 15, 2025
UFC 2 4:48
W Ovince Saint Preux Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 307
October 5, 2024
UFC 1 1:35
L Bogdan Guskov TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Nicolau vs. Perez
April 27, 2024
UFC 2 3:16
L Anthony Smith Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie
August 26, 2023
UFC 3 5:00
L Nikita Krylov Submission (triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili
March 11, 2023
UFC 1 3:38
W Dominick Reyes KO (punches) UFC 281
November 12, 2022
UFC 1 1:20
W Ion Cuțelaba Submission (guillotine choke) UFC on ESPN: Błachowicz vs. Rakić
May 14, 2022
UFC 1 2:22
L Anthony Smith Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann
September 18, 2021
UFC 1 3:47
W Misha Cirkunov TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad
March 13, 2021
UFC 1 1:11
L Johnny Walker KO (elbows and punches) UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley
September 19, 2020
UFC 1 2:43
W Sam Alvey Decision (split) UFC 249
May 9, 2020
UFC 3 5:00
W Devin Clark Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson
October 12, 2019
UFC 2 2:01
W Antônio Rogério Nogueira KO (punches) UFC 237
May 11, 2019
UFC 1 2:07
W Luis Henrique Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders
September 22, 2018
UFC 3 5:00
W Emiliano Sordi Submission (guillotine choke) Dana White's Contender Series 10
June 19, 2018
Dana White's Contender Series 1 0:26
W Alex Nicholson KO (punches) LFA 32
January 26, 2018
LFA 1 4:24
W Myron Dennis KO (punches) LFA 27
November 10, 2017
LFA 1 3:08
W LeMarcus Tucker Submission (rear-naked choke) LFA 23
September 22, 2017
LFA 1 2:55
L Karl Roberson KO (elbows) Dana White's Contender Series 3
July 25, 2017
Dana White's Contender Series 1 0:15
W Roman Pizzolato Submission (guillotine choke) World FC 72
May 13, 2017
World FC 1 0:20
L Trevin Giles Decision (split) LFA 3
February 10, 2017
LFA 3 5:00
L Robert Drysdale Submission (rear-naked choke) Legacy FC 58
July 22, 2016
Legacy FC 2 2:58
W Aaron Davis Submission (guillotine choke) Legacy FC 52
March 25, 2016
Legacy FC 1 2:53
L Leo Leite Decision (unanimous) Legacy FC 48
November 13, 2015
Legacy FC 5 5:00
W Larry Crowe KO (punches) Legacy FC 42
June 26, 2015
Legacy FC 1 0:08
W Dwight Gipson Submission (guillotine choke) Vengeance Fighting Alliance: Round 5
May 9, 2015
Vengeance Fighting Alliance 1 4:39
W Artenas Young Submission (guillotine choke) Fury FC 4
February 13, 2015
Fury FC 3 2:32
L Brandon Farran TKO (punches) Hero FC: Best of the Best 3
September 12, 2014
Hero FC 1 0:21
W Randy McCarty Decision (unanimous) Hero FC: Best of the Best 1
February 1, 2014
Hero FC 3 5:00
W Jhonoven Pati Submission (guillotine choke) Hero FC: Texas Pride
September 28, 2013
Hero FC 1 2:32
W Brandon Atkins Submission (guillotine choke) Hero FC: Pride of the Valley 2
June 21, 2013
Hero FC 1 0:44
W Steven Zamora Submission (rear-naked choke) El Orgullo del Valle
March 16, 2013
El Orgullo del Valle 1 2:25
W Aaron Lebrun Submission (rear-naked choke) Vengeance Fighting Alliance: Round 1
February 16, 2013
Vengeance Fighting Alliance 1 —

Career history from the fighter's Wikipedia record table (Ryan Spann) — results only, no strike stats; UFC bouts are marked and carry full stats in the fight history above.

Division context

vs. 100 qualified Heavyweight fighters · tick = division mean
Striking volume /min 3.0 avg 3.4
Strikes absorbed /min 4.1 avg 3.3
Striking accuracy 39.4% avg 49.5%
Striking defense 42.2% avg 52.1%
Takedowns /15 min 1.1 avg 1.2
Takedown accuracy 33.3% avg 37.6%
Takedown defense 50.0% avg 61.8%
Sub attempts /15 min 1.6 avg 0.4
Control time 22.5% avg 21.4%
Finish rate 80.0% avg 63.7%