- Anthony Smith thinks Ryan Spann wouldn’t be like the same fighter he submitted in their first fight
- “Lionheart” is not taking “Superman” lightly despite already beating him
Nearly two years since their first meeting, light heavyweight contenders Anthony Smith and Ryan Spann will take on each other once again at UFC Singapore. Heading into the rematch, “Lionheart” talked about what he expects from his past foe.
A new opponent will enter the Cage
Speaking to ESPN MMA, Smith did not shy away from admitting that he is certain Spann will be coming in wiser and with a new approach. The former UFC light heavyweight title challenger even suspected that “Superman” and his team have studied the game of his successful past opponents.
“I just look at this as like a totally new fight. I’m sure he’s made adjustments,” Smith said of Spann. “There was probably a lot for him to take from that last fight and I’m sure that they’re going to come with a different approach I’m sure he’s going to be a little bit more measured and probably use some of the things that have worked in my last couple fights against me. I’m sure they’re going to implement that into their game a little bit.”
Anthony still respects Ryan’s game
It took only less than one round for Smith to submit Spann in their first matchup at UFC Vegas 37. Even though “Lionheart” insists that “nothing” in Spann’s game surprised him, he still respects the man on the other side of the cage and what he could do.
“Nothing really [surprised me about Spann’s game], to be honest and I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way,” Smith explained. “I expected him to be powerful. I expected him to be kind of chaotic in there, a little bit at least at a point I knew he would get there. I was a little bit surprised at how easy it was to find him I thought he was going to be a little bit more elusive but other than that man, he didn’t really surprise me.”
“He’s a tough guy. He’s got a lot of talent, he’s really explosive, he’s got crazy power. I got a lot of respect for his game,” he concluded.
Both Smith and Spann will be looking to end their skid at UFC Singapore this weekend. Smith is coming off back-to-back losses – a TKO defeat to Magomed Ankalaev and a decision loss to Johnny Walker. On the other hand, Spann lost to Nikita Krylov via first-round submission at UFC Las Vegas.
