Top-fifteen light heavyweight Ryan Spann attempted to defend his ranking against Uzbekistani Bogdan Guskov in the UFC Vegas 91 co-main event on Saturday.
Guskov lost on short notice in his debut but when he rebounded with a first round knockout he earned this shot against #11 Spann, who was looking to right the ship after two straight losses. Although he was an underdog and lost the first round, he came back to absolutely obliterate Spann in the second.
The two prolific finishers coiled their punches, ready to swing as they felt out their range and opponent. One minute in, Ryan Spann shot a takedown and got to the hips, but then got stuffed. An inadvertent groin strike paused the action but the referee returned them to the fence afterwards. However, Ryan Spann again hit Guskov in the groin, this time more direct. Guskov was fine to keep fighting, but two illegal blows in a few seconds was fairly egregious. Bogdan seemed unbothered as the referee gave a warning to Spann. On the feet, Ryan landed a few shots and then took a good chance to get double underhooks and drive forward for a takedown.
Spann dominated on the ground and passed to the back, then tried for a rear naked choke. It did not get too close, but he did smother Guskov to tire him out. He flattened Bodgan out, hit him a few good times, and stayed on the back until the round ended.
Everything changed in the second round when Guskov caught Spann with multiple right hands, nearly dropping him and forcing Ryan to shoot for a leg. When he got back up, Spann charged forward with his own big shots, hitting Guskov clean several times of his own, though perhaps overswinging. Bogdan’s chin proved to be incredible with some of the shots he absorbed with ease. With two minutes left, Guskov landed a monster right uppercut and swarmed a falling Spann, putting him out cold with ground and pound.
Official Result: Bogdan Guskov def. Ryan Spann by Knockout (ground and pound), Round 2, 3:16
