Ryan Spann ready for respect that should come with UFC Tampa win over Devin Clark

TAMPA, Fla. – Ryan Spann beat Devin Clark with a first-round submission Saturday to close out the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN+ 19 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.

Take a look inside the fight with Spann, who won for the seventh straight time.

Result: Ryan Spann def. Devin Clark via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 2:01
Updated records: Spann (17-5 MMA, 3-0 UFC), Clark (10-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC)
Key stat: Six of Spann’s seven straight wins have come by stoppage

Spann on the fight’s key moment

“I hope this win finally helps people realize I am a contender in this division. People are sleeping on me even after the (Antonio Rogerio) Nogueira fight, not giving him his respect after I went in there and beat him, so we wanted to take on a young guy like Devin Clark that would get me that respect with a win.”

Spann on the benefits of Fortis MMA

“I want to thank my strength and conditioning coach. I felt great in there – (I) didn’t get tired even after the wrestling. Usually I’d get tired and be huffing and puffing. It was like a dream. This is my first time living in Dallas. I’ve been with coach (Saud) Sayif forever, but I’ve only been able to train for five weeks at a time. So this time I felt great.”

Spann on what he wants next

“I’m trying to stay as active in 2020. This is my life and my job. I have a family to provide for and protect and I’ve been blessed to be able to use my body to do that. I’ve been training since I was a baby to do this. I want to go back to getting my first-round finishes because my momma worries when my fights go on too long.”

To hear more from Spann, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.