Following a week off, the UFC is back in action with a pair of light heavyweights on the marquee for this week’s UFC Fight Night. Headlining the card is former title challenger Anthony Smith taking on rising prospect Ryan Spann.
UFC Fight Night: Smith vs Spann takes place on Saturday, September 18, at the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Looking at the main event, the Smith vs Spann odds have the higher-ranked Smith as the favorite.
After losing his title fight to Jon Jones in 2019, Smith then dropped two of his next three fights as well but has rebounded in a big way with back-to-back first-round victories over rising prospects Devin Clark and Jimmy Crute.
Spann secured a UFC contract with his Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series appearance in 2018 and has had a successful experience in the Octagon, sporting a record of 5-1 in the promotion.
Smith vs Spann Odds
Online sportsbook [Sportsbook not available for your region] has listed the Smith vs Spann odds with Anthony set as the -175 favorite and Ryan the +145 underdog. If you’re looking to profit $100 with a Smith win, these odds mean that you would have to bet $175. Conversely, a $100 bet on a Spann victory would net you $145.
What exactly does -175 mean? Well, our sports betting calculator tells us that -175 odds represent an implied win probability of 63.64 percent, while Spann’s +145 odds have an implied win probability of 40.82 percent.
If you’re looking for a parlay builder, you may be interested in placing a bet on Arman Tsarukyan as his -900 odds make him the biggest favorite on the UFC Fight Night: Smith vs Spann card as he takes on Christos Giagos (+550). Meanwhile, the tightest betting line is seen across two fights that you can see below.
Smith vs Spann Betting Odds & Fight Card
- Main Card
- Light Heavyweight – Anthony Smith (-175) vs Ryan Spann (+145)
- Light Heavyweight – Ion Cutelaba (-150) vs Devin Clark (+125)
- Lightweight – Nikolas Motta (-310) vs Cameron VanCamp (+240)
- Women’s Flyweight – Ariane Lipski (-120) vs Mandy Bohm (+100)
- Lightweight – Arman Tsarukyan (-900) vs Christos Giagos (+550)
- Middleweight – Joaquin Buckley (-200) vs Antonio Arroyo (+160)
- Prelims
- Light Heavyweight – Mike Rodriguez (+110) vs Tafon Nchukwi (-130)
- Women’s Bantamweight – Pannie Kianzad (+110) vs Raquel Pennington (-130)
- Bantamweight – Nathan Maness (+170) vs Tony Gravely (-210)
- Lightweight – Dakota Bush (-130) vs Zhu Rong (+110)
- Bantamweight – Montel Jackson (-650) vs JP Buys (+425)
- Women’s Flyweight – Erin Blanchfield (-310) vs Sarah Alpar (+240)
- Welterweight – Impa Kasanganay (-120) vs Carlston Harris (+100)
- Bantamweight – Gustavo Lopez (+105) vs Heili Alateng (-125)
- Women’s Strawweight – Hannah Goldy (+110) vs Emily Whitmire (-130)
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- Date/Time: September 18, 4 p.m. ET
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
- Arena: UFC Apex
- Where to Watch: ESPN+
Anthony Smith vs Ryan Spann Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Anthony Smith | -175 |
| Ryan Spann | +145 |
As mentioned, Anthony “Lionheart” Smith (-175) is coming off back-to-back stoppage victories and, in fact, all six of his wins at light heavyweight have been finishes. As for Ryan “Superman” Spann (+145), he had his eight-fight winning streak snapped in late 2020 but returned to the win column in March and is looking to get on another lengthy streak.
- Smith has been an extremely active fighter since joining the UFC with this being his 15th fight since 2016. His record now sits at 35-16 with only five total fights going the distance. He has 32 stoppage wins (19 knockouts, 13 submissions) while he has been knocked out nine times and submitted four times.
- Lionheart is a dangerous fighter wherever the fight takes place, though he prefers to keep it standing. That said, the statistics aren’t favorable as he averages 3.00 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 4.36. Additionally, he averages less than 0.5 takedowns per 15 minutes despite the 13 submissions on his record.
- One thing that is undeniable is Smith’s toughness and for that reason, he can never be counted out. The orthodox fighter has a good jab and a nasty clinch with powerful elbows and knees at close range.
- Smith’s last three fights were Aleksandar Rakic (loss – unanimous decision), Devin Clark (win – submission) and Jimmy Crute (win – knockout).
- With just one defeat in the UFC, a win in this fight will send Spann on his way to a potential title fight down the road. He holds a 19-6 record and 16 of those wins are finishes (five knockouts, 11 submissions). He has been stopped four times as well (three knockouts, one submission).
- Evident in the number of submissions on his record, Superman likes to get into grappling exchanges and he averages 1.72 takedowns per 15 minutes. He likes to work in the clinch to get those takedowns or weigh on his opponents.
- On the feet, Spann’s striking is a little defensive but that’s not discrediting his power. He has a great ability to catch his foes on entry and hurt them, though he can be picked apart by jabs and combinations.
- Spann’s last three fights were Sam Alvey (win – split decision), Johnny Walker (loss – knockout) and Misha Cirkunov (win – knockout).
Prediction: Anthony Smith (-175) via knockout
Ion Cutelaba vs Devin Clark Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ion Cutelaba | -150 |
| Devin Clark | +125 |
Ion “The Hulk” Cutelaba (-150) is searching for his first win in two years, following back-to-back losses and a draw in his last three outings. Meanwhile, Devin “Brown Bear” Clark (+125) had his two-fight winning streak snapped nearly a year ago and hasn’t been in action since then.
- Don’t expect a long, drawn-out fight when Cutelaba is involved. Only three of his 23 pro fights have gone the distance. His record of 15-6-1 with one no contest includes 12 knockout victories as well as two knockout and two submission losses.
- The Hulk is a wild man, and the opening round for his opponents is a dangerous one. He is well-rounded with 5.03 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.80 and he mixes in 3.69 takedowns per 15 minutes as well.
- The big problem for Cutelaba is that he’s all or nothing. He knows he’s not paid by the hour and he tries to take care of business early but his conditioning fails him the longer the bout goes. That said, I thought he looked better in his last fight compared to the past, but he still slowed noticeably.
- Cutelaba’s last three fights were Magomed Ankalaev (loss – knockout), Magomed Ankalaev (loss – knockout) and Dustin Jacoby (split draw).
- Clark has struggled to find his footing in the UFC since making his debut in 2016; he hasn’t had a streak – winning or losing – of more than two over that span. He has a 12-5 record with eight decision victories while all of his defeats have been finishes (two knockouts, three submissions).
- Brown Bear is first and foremost a grappler, averaging 2.70 takedowns per 15 minutes. Due to the threat of the takedown, his opponents have been hesitant to let their hands go, resulting in him absorbing only 2.43 significant strikes per minute.
- He’s aggressive in searching for the takedown, especially against powerful opponents, and if he can get Cutelaba down early, he could sap that limited cardio. On the feet, he tends to bend over a little bit at the waist and throws big overhand strikes to help close the distance.
- Clark’s last three fights were Dequan Townsend (win – unanimous decision), Alonzo Menifield (win – unanimous decision) and Anthony Smith (loss – submission).
Prediction: Ion Cutelaba (-150) via submission
Nikolas Motta vs Cameron VanCamp Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Nikolas Motta | -310 |
| Cameron VanCamp | +240 |
Set to make his UFC debut is Nikolas “Iron” Motta (-310), who secured a UFC contract last November in Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. Taking the fight on short notice after Jim Miller tested positive for COVID-19 is Cameron “The Invader” VanCamp (+240), who is also making his UFC debut.
- Not only did Motta pick up a win in Dana White’s Contender Series last November, but that was his third win in a row. He is now 12-3 with eight knockout victories while each of his losses has come by stoppage (two knockouts, one submission).
- Obviously, with 75 percent of his wins coming by knockout, he likes the fight to remain standing. Iron has exceptional hand speed and a powerful left hook and he does a great job working when he gets inside the pocket. But at times he doesn’t back out when he’s finished his work and ends up getting countered heavily.
- That said, his work in the pocket is dangerous and comes with a lot of power. The big question for me is Motta’s grappling, as there’s very limited footage of that aspect of his game.
- Motta’s last three fights were Cesar Balmaceda (win – knockout), Juan Gonzalez (win – unanimous decision) and Joseph Lowry (win – unanimous decision).
- VanCamp is on a good run heading into his UFC debut, winning his last four fights, three of which were submission victories. Overall, he’s 15-5-1 with one no contest and 13 of his wins are finishes (nine submissions, four knockouts).
- The Invader isn’t an overly intimidating striker, typically throwing punches as he moves forward looking to get into a grappling exchange where he does his best work.
- As is evident with nine submissions on his record, grappling is his paradise and he has a variety of submissions showing his expertise in that area. On the feet, he switches stances well and has straight punches but lacks a lot of pop and keeps his chin way up in the air.
- VanCamp’s last three fights were Craig Eckelberg (win – submission), Hawraz Syan (win – submission) and Kenny Gaudreau (win – submission).
Prediction: Nikolas Motta (-310) via knockout
Ariane Lipski vs Mandy Bohm Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ariane Lipski | -120 |
| Mandy Bohm | +100 |
Ready to make her UFC debut and lay her perfect 7-0 record on the line is Mandy “Monster” Bohm (+100). On the flip side, Ariane “Queen of Violence” Lipski (-120) is looking to slap a loss on Bohm’s record and snap a two-fight skid of her own.
- Lipski had been on a nine-fight winning streak prior to her UFC debut but has struggled to find her footing since. She now carries a 13-7 record with nine stoppage victories (six knockouts, three submissions). She has also been finished three times, all by knockout.
- With a moniker like the Queen of Violence, you’ll be disappointed to see that she has been outstruck in four of her six UFC fights, averaging 2.76 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 4.25.
- Despite her lower output, she is aggressive, typically backing her foes against the cage before letting her hands fly. At times, though, she backs her opponents up and doesn’t throw, or waits to counter.
- Lipski’s last three fights were Luana Carolina (win – submission), Antonina Shevchenko (loss – knockout) and Montana De La Rosa (loss – knockout).
- While this is Bohm’s UFC debut, her last appearance came in the well-recognized organization Bellator – arguably UFC’s biggest North American competitor. As mentioned, she is 7-0 with one no contest and has stopped four of her opponents, two by submission and two by knockout.
- Monster is long with a 70-inch reach and she uses her jab to push her foes back as she follows up with a leg kick. While she is crafty at a distance, if her opponents rush in on her, she will reach for a Thai clinch where she has nasty knees.
- She has been taken down as she reaches out for the clinch but she is quite strong and is good at scrambling back to her feet.
- Bohm’s last three fights were Lili Panegirico (win – knockout), Jade Masson-Wong (win – submission) and Griet Eeckhout (win – unanimous decision).
Prediction: Ariane Lipski (-120) via decision
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Arman Tsarukyan vs Christos Giagos Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Arman Tsarukyan | -900 |
| Christos Giagos | +550 |
The biggest favorite on the card is Arman “Ahalkalakets” Tsarukyan (-900), returning to the cage for the first time since January looking to extend his three-fight winning streak. Christos “The Spartan” Giagos (+550) has a winning streak of his own, winning his last two walks to the Octagon.
- Tsarukyan’s winning streak would be longer had his UFC debut not come against potentially the future lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, in 2019. He lost that bout, just the second loss of his career, as he is now 16-2 with 10 stoppage victories (five knockouts, five submissions).
- Ahalkalakets is a problem for opponents in the lightweight division with a very bright future ahead of him at just 24 years old. He averages 3.35 significant strikes per minute, absorbs 1.43 strikes, and he gets 3.50 takedowns per 15 minutes.
- In his last outing, he scored 10 takedowns against Matt Frevola in a dominant performance, while in his prior bout he had just one takedown while outstriking Davi Ramos 91-33.
- Tsarukyan’s last three fights were Olivier Aubin-Mercier (win – unanimous decision), Davi Ramos (win – unanimous decision) and Matt Frevola (win – unanimous decision).
- Speaking of tough debuts, Giagos’s first UFC fight came against current welterweight contender Gilbert Burns and after being cut, his return to the Octagon in 2018 came against current lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.
- Overall, he’s 19-8 with 11 stoppage wins (seven knockouts, four submissions) and he’s also been submitted four times. The Spartan moves well and has good straight punches, but he can be a little too patient and gets picked apart.
- His best work is in grappling where he averages 3.38 takedowns per 15 minutes. At times, he gets too excited, rushing to get hooks in or change position and ends up back on his feet. Giagos has very limited head movement and doesn’t bring his hands up to defend, which puts him in a vulnerable position against strong strikers.
- Giagos’s last three fights were Drakkar Klose (loss – unanimous decision), Carlton Minus (win – unanimous decision) and Sean Soriano (win – submission).
Prediction: Arman Tsarukyan (-900) via knockout
Joaquin Buckley vs Antonio Arroyo Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Joaquin Buckley | -200 |
| Antonio Arroyo | +160 |
It took two appearances on the Contender Series for Antonio Arroyo (+160) to get his UFC opportunity but after two bouts in the promotion, he’s still searching for his first win. As for Joaquin “New Mansa” Buckley (-200), he’s trying to improve his .500 record in the UFC and rebound from a loss earlier this year.
- Buckley turned heads with his knockout of the year victory in late 2020. In fact, much of his career is filled with knockouts. Nine of his 12 wins have come in that manner but so too have three of his four defeats.
- Don’t look for New Mansa to be searching for a takedown too often; he has scored just one through four UFC bouts. Instead, look for a war on the feet as he averages 4.58 significant strikes per minute (landing 36 percent) while absorbing 5.46.
- The southpaw is big and aggressive, with much of his movement being very explosive. At times, he will lunge to close the distance and then throw a big hook rather than punching his way into the pocket.
- Buckley’s last three fights were Impa Kasanganay (win – knockout), Jordan Wright (win – knockout) and Alessio Di Chirico (loss – knockout).
- This is the first time in Arroyo’s career that he has lost consecutive fights. His record is 9-4 with eight stoppage victories (four knockouts, four submissions) while half of his losses have come by submission.
- Despite losing his first two UFC fights, he has outstruck those opponents by a combined 74-42 margin. But it is his takedown defense that has hurt him, getting taken down 15 times over the two fights.
- He has really powerful kicks and swings everything into them. Arroyo is fairly loose in the standup, snapping straight punches to the head while firing his kicks and knees behind them. He keeps his hands low, which could put him in danger in this fight, but I think he’s faster and the kicks should help maintain the distance.
- Arroyo’s last three fights were Stephen Regman (win – submission), Andre Muniz (loss – unanimous decision) and Deron Winn (loss – unanimous decision).
Prediction: Antonio Arroyo (+160) via knockout
UFC Fight Night: Smith vs Spann Best Bets
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Light Heavyweight – Anthony Smith | -175 |
| Light Heavyweight – Ion Cutelaba | -150 |
| Lightweight – Nikolas Motta | -310 |
| Women’s Flyweight – Ariane Lipski | -120 |
| Lightweight – Arman Tsarukyan | -900 |
| Middleweight – Antonio Arroyo | +160 |
