Here are three reasons to watch UFC Vegas 37: Anthony Smith vs. Ryan Spann.
After taking off last week, UFC returns with fifteen fights featured at UFC Vegas 37. The preliminary card and main card can both be seen exclusively on ESPN+ starting at 6 p.m. ET. UFC Vegas 37 will showcase a variety of upcoming talent looking to make a statement on Saturday night.
In the headliner, Ryan Spann takes on Anthony Smith in a hard-hitting main event. Holding a UFC record of 5-1, Spann looks to enter the light heavyweight top ten rankings. The task will be easier said than done against the always dangerous Smith. At 33 years old, Smith has won his last two fights on the way back to a title shot. Violence is expected between these two fighters, both willing to do whatever it takes to win.
Also, the co-main event features light heavyweights Ion Cutelaba and Devin Clark. Both fighters want to get back in the win column and tend to come out aggressive. Other fights to look out for include Christos Giagos vs. Arman Tsarukyan, Joaquin Buckley vs. Antonio Arroyo, Tafon Nchukwi vs. Mike Rodriguez, and Impa Kasanganay vs. Carlston Harris. From top to bottom, UFC Vegas 37 has the potential to be one of the best fight cards of the year.
Joaquin Buckley looks to bounce back with a statement.
The last time we saw Buckley was disappointing, to say the least. No disrespect to Alessio Di Chirico, but the Buckley hype train seemed unstoppable. Buckley ended up losing by a first-round head kick, with the highlight going viral. Buckley is still only 27 years old and can end any fight with his unbelievable power and aggression. He now looks to bounce back with another highlight-reel KO against Arroyo, who finds himself 0-2 in the UFC.
Impa Kasanganay vs. Carlston Harris may steal the show.
Kasanganay vs. Harris has fight of the night written all over it. After losing his first pro fight to Buckley by last year’s KO of the year, Kasanganay is back on track to the top. Fighting out of Sanford MMA, Kasanganay continues to improve his well-rounded fight style.
On the contrary, Harris is riding a huge wave of momentum after winning his UFC debut by first-round submission. At 34 years old, the Guyana-born fighter needs to make a run quickly. After watching his UFC debut, the potential to make the run is there.
Both fighters are talented both physically and mentally. They put the work in and show up every fight ready to go. At UFC Vegas 37, their equal desire to win may lead to one of the best fights of the night. Regardless of the outcome, both fighters could do damage in the UFC welterweight division moving forward.
Will Anthony Smith continue his journey back to a title shot?
Smith has been through everything the fight game has to offer. Holding a record of 35-16, the only thing Smith has not been able to do is to become a UFC champion. He has failed once before, and the goal has never changed to complete the task. At 33 years old, Smith has the chance to build on his two-win streak with a big win in the UFC Vegas 37 main event.
Standing in his way will be the powerful Spann, who continues to work up the light heavyweight rankings. After winning his first four UFC fights, Spann was slowed down by a loss to Johnny Walker. Six months later, Spann bounced back with a first-round KO against Misha Cirkunov. Spann now looks to use Smith as a stepping stone into the top ten.
Both fighters put on entertaining fights and have the same championship goals in mind. The major difference is the experience and pain suffered thus far to get here. Will Smith continue to claw his way back to a title shot? Is it time to start talking about Spann as a future title contender? Luckily, we only have to wait till Saturday to answer both of those questions.