The UFC is finalizing a light heavyweight bout between Anthony Smith and Ryan Spann to headline an event in September.
Smith (35-16) announced the fight himself this week, and sources close to Spann told ESPN he has also agreed. The 205-pound contest will serve as the main event of UFC Fight Night on Sept. 18. The promotion has not announced an official venue for that event.
Smith, 32, is coming off a much-needed win against light heavyweight prospect Jimmy Crute. A 13-year professional fighting veteran, Smith dropped back-to-back fights to start off 2020 -- and took a lot of damage in a bout against Glover Teixeira that May. He has since rebounded, however, with impressive wins against Devin Clark and Crute.
Spann (19-6) is also coming off a significant win. The 29-year-old scored a first-round knockout over Misha Cirkunov in March. It was a nice bounce-back from a first-round loss to Johnny Walker in September. That loss was Spann's first in the UFC.