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Anthony Smith Overcomes Ugly Injury to Defeat Ryan Spann at UFC Singapore

Anthony Smith and Ryan Spann went to war at UFC Singapore.

Mathew Riddle

Anthony Smith Overcomes Ugly Injury to Defeat Ryan Spann at UFC Singapore
Anthony Smith Overcomes Ugly Injury to Defeat Ryan Spann at UFC Singapore /

Anthony Smith has defeated Ryan Spann by split decision at UFC Singapore. It was a hard-fought affair with Smith overcoming a terrible eye injury sustained in the second round.

The first round went to Smith, who controlled the fight on the feet and on the ground. Smith peppered Spann with leg kicks in the first round, even sweeping Spann off his feet with a thudding calf kick. The two had a brief grappling exchange where Smith controlled the positions and attacked Spann's neck. However, Spann was able to muscle himself back to the feet.

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In the second round, Spann sent a hurt Smith reeling back to the cageside with a thudding left hook to the eye socket. As Smith bounced off the octagon, Spann launched a flying knee and the two fighters entangled on the floor. Spann denied Smith's submission attempts and started to club away with ground and pound; Smith's eye swelled incredibly as they returned to the feet.

There was a lapse in the action, before Smith found the mark with a rocket right hand. Spann was unphased and the round timer sounded.

"Do not let that [eye] derail your path right now," Smith's cornerman Marc Montoya remarked. "Two or three more calf kicks, he's done."

The ringside doctor checked Smith's vision thoroughly and allowed him to continue. Smith and Spann embraced in the center before the action resumed.

Smith returned to form in the third, conserving his energy, protecting his eye, and going back to what found him success in the first. Spann was intent on slipping Smith's offense and returning with counters. 

"Nobody has established dominance," Bisping exclaimed on the commentary. "Who's willing to take the chance to dig deep and go for it? ...So far this is very even. How bad do you want it?"

Nobody found success in the third, and the fight seemed dead even as the final bell sounded. However, the judges scorecards read 29-28, 29-28, and 28-29 Smith.

Fight stats for Smith vs. Spann
Fight stats for Smith vs. Spann

Smith didn't make any callouts in his post-fight speech, instead declaring that he'd like to go home and spend some time with his kids. His first port-of-call should be the hospital for his eye.

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Mathew Riddle
MATHEW RIDDLE

Mathew is a UK-based combat sports journalist, graphic designer, and SEO expert with over five years of experience in digital marketing and a dedicated four-year track record in MMA journalism. He joined MMAKO in 2023. Mathew's insights have been featured on The Fight Fanatic, Heavy on UFC, Fansided, and Sportskeeda. Reach him at mr@thefightfanatic.com.

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