Ryan Spann

Ryan Jamari Spann, known to fans as "Superman," is an American mixed martial artist who built his reputation primarily in the UFC light heavyweight division. Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Spann began training in martial arts as a child and carried that grappling background into an amateur MMA career, competing at middleweight and welterweight before turning professional in 2013.

Spann trains with the Fortis MMA team in Texas and holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Brian Hall. Before signing with the UFC, he built a credentialed regional resume, winning the LFA Light Heavyweight Championship and the Hero FC Middleweight Championship. His consistent output at 205 pounds later earned him recognition on MMA Fighting's 2022 All-Star team.

A submission specialist with legitimate knockout power, Spann is best known for his guillotine choke, which has accounted for the majority of his career finishes. He pairs that grappling danger with heavy hands, giving him the ability to end a fight from nearly any position and making him a live threat everywhere the contest goes.

Spann's UFC tenure includes a string of highlight-reel performances. He earned Performance of the Night bonuses for stoppage wins over Misha Cirkunov, Ion Cutelaba, and Ovince Saint Preux. He also scored notable victories over Pride and UFC veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and top light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes. After moving up in weight, Spann added a highlight knockout of decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida

Stats last updated: September 6, 2026