UFC on ESPN 36: Ion Cutelaba vs Ryan Spann Picks, Predictions, Odds

Ryan Spann and Ion Cutelaba fight Saturday in UFC on ESPN 36 at the UFC Apex. Spann enters this fight with a 19-7 record and has won 58 percent of his fights by submission. Cutelaba enters this fight with a 16-6 record and has won 75 percent of his fights by knockout.

Spann has won nine of his last 11 fights and is coming off a September loss to Anthony Smith. Spann is averaging 3.43 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 44 percent. Spann is averaging 1.58 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 38 percent. Spann is coming off a submission loss at UFC Fight Night 192 where he landed eight total strikes. Spann has now lost two of his last three fights after previously riding an eight-fight winning streak. Spann hopes to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since 2016-17. Spann is quite an athlete who throws powerful strikes and strong knees in the clinch, but he’s most effective on the canvas where he gains top position and finds a chokehold. Spann has won seven of his 11 submissions with the guillotine choke. Spann is also more than comfortable with his stand-up where he can end things with one shot and throws clean combinations. A blue belt in BJJ, Spann is a balanced fighter who has finished 16 of his 19 career wins. Only five of Spann’s 26 fights overall have gone the distance. This will be Spann’s sixth career fight in Nevada.

Cutelaba has split his last 10 fights and is coming off a September win over Devin Clark. Cutelaba is averaging 4.91 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 42 percent. Cutelaba is averaging 4.39 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 60 percent. Cutelaba is coming off a decision win at UFC Fight Night 192 where he landed 92 total strikes and produced eight takedowns. Cutelaba was in control of the bout from start to finish, and he now looks for back-to-back wins for the first time since 2017-18. Cutelaba comes from a wrestling background while also having experience in Sambo and Judo, but he’s most known for his standup striking. Cutelaba has impressive power and one punch knockout potential, and 12 of his 16 career victories have come by knockout. Cutelaba throws nothing but heavy strikes. The issue with Cutelaba is that his conditioning fades rather quickly, and he’s failed to win four of his last six fights that have made it out of the first round. This will be Cutelaba’s fourth career fight in Nevada.

You can make a case for either fighter here, as they’re both aggressive and look for the finish. Spann is the much bigger fighter with a four-inch reach advantage, and he’s the more accurate striker. Cutelaba is the better takedown artist, lands more shots overall and has a power edge. Pick your battle. With that said, both guys are no strangers to emptying the tank early, and that means we should see this thing end rather quickly. Instead of picking a side, I’m going to bet that this fight does not go the distance.