UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann

{{short description|2021 MMA event}} {{Infobox MMA event |name= UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann |image= File:UFC_Fight_Night_Smith_vs._Spann_official_poster.jpg |promotion= Ultimate Fighting Championship |date= {{start date|2021|09|18}} |venue= UFC Apex |city= Enterprise, Nevada, United States |attendance= Not announced<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-fight-night-192-post-event-facts-anthony-smith-becoming-an-all-time-great-finisher|title=UFC Fight Night 192 post-event facts: Anthony Smith becoming an all-time great finisher|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Mike Bohn|date=2021-09-19|access-date=2021-09-19}}</ref> |gate= |previousevent= UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Till |followingevent= UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega }}

'''''UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann''''' (also known as '''''UFC Fight Night 192''''', '''''UFC Vegas 37''''' and '''''UFC on ESPN+ 50''''') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on September 18, 2021, at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=BREAKING: Dakota Bush vs. Rongzhu added to UFC event on September 18|url=https://mmadna.nl/breaking-dakota-bush-vs-rongzhu-toegevoegd-aan-ufc-evenement-op-18-september/|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Marcel Dorff|date=2021-05-17|access-date=2021-05-26}} {{in lang|nl}}</ref>

==Background== A light heavyweight bout between former UFC Light Heavyweight Championship title challenger Anthony Smith and Ryan Spann served as the main event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2021/6/9/22524736/ufc-anthony-smith-vs-ryan-spann-headline-september-event-light-heavyweight-mma-news|title=Anthony Smith vs. Ryan Spann set to headline September UFC event|publisher=bloodyelbow.com|author=Tim Burke|date=2021-09-09|access-date=2021-08-24|archive-date=2021-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813150809/https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2021/6/9/22524736/ufc-anthony-smith-vs-ryan-spann-headline-september-event-light-heavyweight-mma-news|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A light heavyweight bout between Ion Cuțelaba and Devin Clark was rescheduled to take place at this event.<ref name="Cutelaba vs. Clark">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/6/16/22536183/ion-cutelaba-vs-devin-clark-booked-for-upcoming-ufc-event-on-sept-18|title=Ion Cutelaba vs. Devin Clark booked for upcoming UFC event on Sept. 18|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Damon Martin and Mike Heck|date=2021-06-16|access-date=2021-06-16}}</ref> The bout was previously scheduled to take place in May at UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka, but Clark pulled out of that event citing injury.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cagesidepress.com/2021/04/20/devin-clark-ion-cutelaba-now-faces-dustin-jacoby/|title=With Devin Clark out, Ion Cutelaba now faces Dustin Jacoby at UFC Vegas 25|publisher=cagesidepress.com|author=Jay Anderson|date=2021-04-20|access-date=2021-04-22}}</ref>

A bantamweight bout between Tony Gravely and Nate Maness took place at this event.<ref name="Gravely vs. Maness">{{Cite web|url=https://mmadna.nl/tweede-poging-tony-gravely-vs-nate-maness-ditmaal-op-18-september/|title=Second try: Tony Gravely vs. Nate Maness, this time on September 18th|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Marcel Dorff|date=2021-08-17|access-date=2021-08-17}} {{in lang|nl}}</ref> The pairing was previously scheduled to meet at UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum, but it was scrapped after Maness was removed from the bout for undisclosed reasons.<ref name="Gravely vs. Birchak">{{Cite web|url=https://mmadna.nl/anthony-birchak-vervangt-nate-maness-tegen-tony-gravely-tijdens-ufc-evenement-op-17-april/|title=Anthony Birchak replaces Nate Maness against Tony Gravely at UFC event on April 17th|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Marcel Dorff|date=2021-03-26|access-date=2021-03-26}} {{in lang|nl}}</ref>

A bantamweight bout between Montel Jackson and Danaa Batgerel was scheduled for the event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmadna.nl/breaking-montel-jackson-treft-danaa-batgerel-op-18-september/|title=Montel Jackson meets Danaa Batgerel on September 18|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Jamal Boussenaf|date=2021-06-03|access-date=2021-06-03}} {{in lang|nl}}</ref> However, Batgerel was pulled from the event due to visa issues and replaced by JP Buys.<ref name="Jackson vs. Buys">{{Cite web|url=https://mmadna.nl/breaking-jp-buys-accepteert-short-notice-partij-tegen-montel-jackson-op-18-september/|title=BREAKING: JP Buys accepts short notice game against Montel Jackson on September 18|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Marcel Dorff|date=2021-08-20|access-date=2021-08-20}} {{in lang|nl}}</ref>

Cory McKenna was expected to face Emily Whitmire in a women's strawweight bout at this event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/07/ufc-news-cory-mckenna-vs-emily-whitmire-strawweight-fight-night-sept-18|title=Cory McKenna vs. Emily Whitmire added to UFC Fight Night on Sept. 18|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Farah Hannoun|date=2021-07-29|access-date=2021-08-24}}</ref> However, McKenna was removed from the event for an undisclosed reason and replaced by Hannah Goldy.<ref name="Whitmire vs. Goldy">{{cite web|url=https://www.marseillenews.net/mckenna-absent-hannah-goldy-affronte-emily-whitmire-a-lufc-fight-night-le-18-septembre.html|title=McKenna absent, Hannah Goldy faces Emily Whitmire at UFC Fight Night on September 18|publisher=marseillenews.net|author=Staff|date=2021-08-23|access-date=2021-08-24}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

A women's flyweight bout between former KSW Women's Flyweight Champion Ariane Lipski and promotional newcomer Mandy Böhm took place at the event.<ref name="delay">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/8/30/22648739/ariane-lipski-vs-mandy-bohm-off-of-ufc-vegas-36-rescheduled-for-sept-18|title=Ariane Lipski vs. Mandy Bohm off of UFC Vegas 36, rescheduled for Sept. 18|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Guilherme Cruz and Alexander K. Lee|date=2021-08-30|access-date=2021-08-30}}</ref> The pairing was previously scheduled to take place two weeks earlier at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Till, but it was removed from the card during the week leading up to that event as Böhm was sidelined due to illness.<ref name="delay" />

A lightweight bout between Jim Miller and Nikolas Motta was expected to take place at the event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/07/ufc-news-jim-miller-vs-nikolas-motta-fight-night-september-18|title=Jim Miller targeted to welcome Nikolas Motta to UFC on September card|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King and Farah Hannoun|date=2021-07-01|access-date=2021-09-10}}</ref> However, Miller tested positive for COVID-19 a week before the event and was pulled from the contest.<ref name="Millerout">{{Cite web|url= https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/09/jim-miller-out-covid-19-coronavirus-vs-nikolas-motta-ufc-fight-night-192|title=Jim Miller says COVID-19 has him out of UFC Fight Night 192 vs. Nikolas Motta|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Staff|date=2021-09-10|access-date=2021-09-10}}</ref> He was replaced by promotional newcomer Cameron VanCamp.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mmadna.nl/breaking-cameron-vancamp-vervangt-jim-miller-tegen-nikolas-motta-tijdens-ufc-fn-192/|title=BREAKING: Cameron VanCamp Replaces Jim Miller Against Nikolas Motta at UFC FN 192|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Marcel Dorff|date=2021-09-11|access-date=2021-09-11}} {{in lang|nl}}</ref> In turn, the bout was scrapped in the days leading up to the event due to an undisclosed injury to one of the participants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/9/17/22679250/nikolas-motta-vs-cameron-vancamp-off-ufc-vegas-37-card|title=Nikolas Motta vs. Cameron VanCamp off UFC Vegas 37 card|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Newswire|date=2021-09-17|access-date=2021-09-17}}</ref>

A lightweight bout between Dakota Bush and Rong Zhu was expected to take place at the event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmamania.com/2021/8/18/22630786/latest-ufc-vegas-37-fight-card-espn-lineup-smith-vs-spann-sept-18-apex-mma|title=Latest UFC Vegas 37 fight card, ESPN+ lineup for 'Smith vs Spann' on Sept. 18|publisher=mmamania.com|author=Jesse Holland|date=2021-09-13|access-date=2021-09-15}}</ref> However, Bush tested positive for COVID-19 during fight week and was replaced by Brandon Jenkins.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/09/ufc-fight-night-192-news-brandon-jenkins-vs-zhu-rong-dakota-bush-covid-19|title= Brandon Jenkins replaces COVID-positive Dakota Bush at UFC Fight Night 192 vs. Zhu Rong|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King and Mike Bohn|date=2021-09-15|access-date=2021-09-15}}</ref> At the weigh-ins, Zhu weighed in at 158 pounds, two pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight and he forfeited 20% of his purse to his opponent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/09/ufc-fight-night-192-anthony-smith-ryan-spann-weigh-in-results-live-video-stream|title=UFC Fight Night 192 weigh-in results: One of 28 fighters misses weight|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Staff|date=2021-09-17|access-date=2021-09-17}}</ref>

==Results== {{MMAevent}} {{MMAevent card|Main Card (ESPN+)}} {{MMAevent bout |Light Heavyweight |Anthony Smith |def. |Ryan Spann |Submission (rear-naked choke) |1 |3:47 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Light Heavyweight |Ion Cuțelaba |def. |Devin Clark |Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 29–26, 29–27) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Women's Flyweight |Ariane Lipski |def. |Mandy Böhm |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Lightweight |Arman Tsarukyan |def. |Christos Giagos |TKO (punches) |1 |2:09 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Bantamweight |Nate Maness |def. |Tony Gravely |TKO (punches) |2 |2:10 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Middleweight |Joaquin Buckley |def. |Antônio Arroyo |KO (punches) |3 |2:26 | }} {{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (ESPN+)|header=no}} {{MMAevent bout |Light Heavyweight |Tafon Nchukwi |def. |Mike Rodríguez |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Women's Bantamweight |Raquel Pennington |def. |Pannie Kianzad |Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Catchweight (158 lb) |Rong Zhu |def. |Brandon Jenkins |TKO (punches) |3 |4:35 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Bantamweight |Montel Jackson |def. |JP Buys |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Women's Flyweight |Erin Blanchfield |def. |Sarah Alpar |Decision (unanimous) (30–25, 30–25, 30–26) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Welterweight |Carlston Harris |def. |Impa Kasanganay |TKO (punches) |1 |2:38 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Bantamweight |Gustavo Lopez |vs. |Alateng Heili |Draw (unanimous) (28–28, 28–28, 28–28) |3 |5:00 |Alateng was deducted one point in round 3 due to repeatedly grabbing the cage. }} {{MMAevent bout |Women's Flyweight |Hannah Goldy |def. |Emily Whitmire |Submission (armbar) |1 |4:17 | }} {{MMAevent end|notes=yes}} <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-september-18-2021|title=UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann|date=20 August 2021 |publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship|access-date=2021-08-20}}</ref>

==Bonus awards== The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/9/18/22681703/ufc-vegas-37-bonuses-four-performance-of-the-night-awards-handed-out|title= UFC Vegas 37 bonuses: Four Performance of the Night awards handed out|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Staff|date=2021-09-18|access-date=2021-09-18}}</ref>

*'''Fight of the Night:''' No bonus awarded. *'''Performance of the Night: Anthony Smith, Arman Tsarukyan, Nate Maness''' and '''Joaquin Buckley'''

== See also == {{Portal|Martial Arts}} * List of UFC events * List of current UFC fighters * 2021 in UFC

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{UFC Events}} {{2021 in mixed martial arts}}

Category:UFC Fight Night Category:2021 in mixed martial arts Category:September 2021 sports events in the United States Category:2021 in sports in Nevada Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship events in Enterprise, Nevada