UFC Singapore: Smith vs Spann 2 Picks (Spann Exacts Revenge)
It’s fight week in the MMA world and UFC Singapore is less than five days away. Your friends at Betting News already covered the massive main event yesterday, but now it’s time to turn our attention to the exciting co-main event between former light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith and Ryan Spann.
Smith and Spann aren’t exactly strangers. The two previously collided in the main event of UFC Vegas 37, ending in a first-round submission victory for Smith after locking Spann into a rear-naked choke. Only time will tell if history repeats itself.
In the meantime, here’s our preview for the Smith vs. Spann matchup at UFC Singapore, complete with the latest betting odds, trends, and picks.
Smith vs Spann 2 Tale of the Tape
Anthony Smith — Ryan Spann
- Record: 36-18 — 21-8
- Height: 6’4” — 6’5”
- Reach: 76” — 79”
- Weight: 205 lbs — 205 lbs
- Age: 35 — 31
- Fighting Stance: Orthodox — Orthodox
- Knockouts: 20 — 6
Smith vs Spann Odds (as of Tuesday, August 22 at 9:00 a.m. via BetOnline)
Moneyline
- Anthony Smith (+110)
- Ryan Spann (-130)
Will the Fight Go the Distance?
Round Total
- Over 1.5 Rounds (+150)
- Under 1.5 Rounds (-180)
Smith vs Spann 2 Fight Preview
Oddsmakers across the board are projecting Smith vs. Spann to be one of the closer-fought bouts at UFC Singapore. BetOnline is currently favoring Spann to be victorious at -130 odds on the moneyline, which carries an implied win probability of just 56.5%.
Spann’s in search of some consistency at this point in his career. After beginning his UFC run with an impressive 5-0 start, the 31-year-old has fought to a .500 record (3-3) in his last six fights.
On one hand, Spann has impressed during that span, finishing three opponents (two via KO/TKO, one via submission) and earned ‘performance of the night’ honors twice. On the other, he was also finished in each of those losses — including when he was most recently submitted by Nikita Krylov back in March.
At the same time, it isn’t like Smith has been the benchmark for consistency. “Lionheart” has struggled to string wins together in recent years, going 4-5 in his last nine fights, which plays a big role in his being unranked at the moment.
Things looked promising when Smith rattled off three consecutive wins a few years ago, culminating with the aforementioned victory over Spann.
Unfortunately, the 36-year-old veteran hasn’t won since that encounter, losing to Magomed Ankalaev (via TKO) at UFC 277 before a unanimous decision loss to Johnny Walker just three months ago.
Smith is at a physical disadvantage in this fight as Spann stands an inch taller with a three-inch reach advantage. And while the duo’s striking numbers are similar, Spann has the wrestling edge, averaging more takedowns (1.64 vs. 0.48) and submissions (1.9 vs. 0.7) per 15 minutes with better takedown accuracy (37% vs. 28%), too.
UFC Singapore: Smith vs Spann Betting Trends and Markets
When the moneyline odds are this close, there’s nothing wrong with an outright pick. However, for those looking for more value, BetOnline has a plethora of Smith vs. Spann betting options that can help you win big this weekend.
For example, oddsmakers aren’t expecting a lengthy fight. Not only is BetOnline favoring that the UFC Singapore co-main event won’t go the distance (-500), but it’s also favoring the under on the 1.5-round total (-180).
Assuming that there is a finish, Spann is favored to win by KO/TKO at +185 odds. He’s racked up six career knockout victories with the most recent instance occurring against Dominick Reyes at UFC 281.
If Smith is the one to finish the job, he’s favored to win by either KO/TKO or submission at +390. It isn’t too shocking that both methods share the same odds considering that he’s won 20 of his 34 career wins by knockout and another 14 by submission.
If you’re looking for a more precise finish, the odds point to Spann winning by first-round knockout (+375). Each of his six career KO/TKO victories occurred in the opening frame with two of his last three victories stemming from that exact method.
If Smith pulls off the upset, BetOnline has him winning either by first-round knockout or submission at +750. Of his 34 all-time finishes, 19 of them happened in Round 1. Having said that, he hasn’t scored a first-round victory since the last time he met Spann.
UFC Singapore: Smith vs Spann 2 Prediction & Picks
While Smith got the last laugh in the first meeting, I’m taking Spann to get some revenge this weekend. Spann is determined to prove that lightning won’t strike twice and I have to say that I like his odds of victory considering that he’s at least won twice since Smith last picked up a win.
I’m also going to back Spann to win by first-round knockout (+375). Smith is going to come out swinging, but Spann has the striking skills to not only weather the storm but to end things early. He’s an expert at first-round finishes and shouldn’t have an issue taking advantage of Smith, who was last TKO’d just over a year ago.
UFC Singapore FAQ
When is UFC Singapore?
UFC Singapore will take place on Saturday, August 26, 2023.
Where is UFC Singapore?
UFC Singapore will take place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.
What time does UFC Singapore start?
- UFC Singapore Preliminary Card Start Time: 8 a.m. ET
- Start Time of UFC Singapore’s Main Card: 5 a.m. ET
How can I watch UFC Singapore?
The UFC Singapore main and preliminary cards can both be viewed on ESPN+ and the UFC Fight Pass.
How can I bet on UFC Singapore?
All of the top online sports betting sites will have UFC Singapore odds, but here are some of the sites we recommend most for MMA betting enthusiasts.
