Anthony Smith (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Preview and prediction for Anthony Smith vs, Ryan Spann at UFC Vegas 37.
Following a weekend lacking in UFC events, the organisation is back on Saturday September 18th with a light heavyweight bout that will see Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith take on Ryan ‘Superman’ Spann.
With Smith the much more experienced out of the pair, he currently sits in sixth place in the UFC Light Heavyweight rankings, five places ahead of Spann.
Spann however is not to be underestimated, having won five of his first six fights inside the UFC octagon.
Anthony Smith will be looking at this fight as a chance to reach a three-fight win streak and get himself on his way back to a title fight after losing a five-round decision bout to then champion Jon Jones back in March 2019.
Ryan Spann on the other hand is eyeing up Smith as a potential win to launch him into the top ten in the division.
Who will win at UFC Vegas 37: Anthony Smith or Ryan Spann?
Both Smith and Spann will come into Saturday’s fight with a point to prove. Smith will want the UFC to know he is still title contender-worthy, while Spann wants to put his name in lights.
Ryan Spann will come into the fight with the height, reach and general size advantage and will look to put the pressure on Smith early.
Despite only having an inch height advantage, Spann’s reach is 5.5 inches greater than that of Smith, and with a number of early stoppages to his name, he will likely look to push his opponent on the backfoot from the start.
However, Smith will have a wealth of experience on his side. Having been five rounds with pound-for-pound number one Jon Jones, his last two losses in the UFC come to the number one and number three in the division, which means Spann’s imposing figure will be nothing new to him.
Also, an accomplished fighter both in stand-up exchanges and on the ground, Anthony Smith has the experience and the ability to get through an early onslaught and still either claim a late round stoppage or grind out a decision win.
Smith however has looked a little slower in his previous couple of fights, showing that he may no longer be in his prime.
While only three years younger than Smith, Spann also started his MMA career five years later, and so although he lacks the experience of 33-year-old Smith, he has taken far less damage in his career.
If the ‘Lionheart’ can show that his nickname is justified by making it through Spann’s power, there is no reason as to why he wouldn’t be able to claim himself a late win on Saturday night.
Prediction: Anthony Smith via majority decision