Ryan Spann is not putting too much stock in his loss to Anthony Smith ahead of their rematch.
This Saturday, in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 225, Spann (21-8 MMA, 7-3 UFC) and Smith (36-18 MMA, 11-8 UFC) meet again after their first clash back in September 2021 in the main event of UFC Fight Night 192. That night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Smith submitted Spann with a rear-naked choke in the first round of the contest.
Now, almost two years later, Spann enters the rematch with little to take away from the defeat.
“It’s hard to say what the mentality is when I think this is my first rematch as a pro,” Spann told reporters at the UFC Fight Night 225 media day. “I’ve only had one ever. Right now, I’m not really thinking about (it), like the past is the past. I can’t do anything about that. It’s just a first fight for me.”
Since the defeat to Smith, Spann has gone 2-1, picking up stoppage victories over Ion Cutelaba and Dominick Reyes, and most recently, losing by submission to Nikita Krylov. On the other hand, Smith has lost twice since their fight.
When asked to analyze Smith, Spann said he’s done little to study his opponent. He’s just focused on himself.
“It’s hard to say, even when we fought before,” Spann explained. “Honestly, I didn’t watch too much of anything. I watched a couple of things and that’s really about it, so it’s hard to say. I just show up and be me and have fun, and the rest will come.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 225.
