- Nikita Krylov is listed as the -155 favorite to beat Ryan Spann (+135) in the main event of UFC FIght Night 220 on February 25, 2023.
- Krylov is coming off back-to-back wins over Alexander Gustafsson and Volkan Oezdemir.
- Spann has won three out of his last four bouts including a KO win over Dominick Reyes in his last bout.
Nikita Krylov has opened as the betting favorite to beat Ryann Spann in their February 25, 2023 light heavyweight showdown.
According to online sportsbook BetOnline, Krylov is the -155 favorite to beat Spann who is currently listed at +135 odds. The odds are closer now than when they opened one week ago as Krylov hit the betting boards at -175 odds and Spann at +135 at the same sportsbook.
đź’°| #UFCVegas70 OPENING ODDS:
Nikita Krylov (-175)
Ryan Spann (+135)[Odds via @betonline_ag]#UFCVegas70 #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/IEUmZj2Iz9
— The MMA Media (@The_MMA_Media) December 30, 2022
Krylov and Smith will headline UFC Fight Night 202 on the above mentioned date at the UFC’s APEX Facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will be the UFC’s sixth show of the year and will precede UFC 284 on March 4th.
Fireworks are expected in this one as Krylov and Spann have a combined 45 stoppages in 54 total wins between them. Both are also coming off stoppage win and have been finishing their opponents as of late.
Back-to-Back Wins
Krylov heads to this bout coming off back-to-back wins over former 205-pound title challengers Alexander Gustafsson and Volkan Oezdemir. The 30-year old from Ukraine is the UFC’s no. 8 ranked light heavyweight contender has scored a stoppage in 12 out of his 14 UFC wins including a 1st round KO of Gustafsson at UFC London last July 23, 2022.
A former Fight Nights Global light heavyweight champion, Krylov is in his second stint with the UFC. The Ukrainian previously fought under ECSF, Oplot Challenge, Warriors Honor, Gladiators FC, and M-1 Challenge. He owns a record of 29-9 with 12 knockouts and 15 wins via submission. According to BetOnline, Kyrlov has the 7th best odds to become the UFC light heavyweight champion at the end of 2023 at +1000 odds.
This will mark the third straight bout where Krylov has opened as the betting favorite. Previously, he opened at -250 odds against Gustafsson and -188 odds against Oezdemir. In the three fights before that, Krylov was the betting underdog against Johnny Walker, Magomed Ankalaev, and Paul Craig. He went 1-2 during that three-bout stretch.
Three Wins in Last Four Bouts
Meanwhile, Spann has won three out of his last four bouts after suffering his first UFC loss to Johnny Walker in September 2020. The 31-year old known as Superman scored a first round knockout win over former light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes at UFC 281 last November 12th in New York. Spann is currently the no. 11 ranked light heavyweight contender in the UFC.
A former middleweight champion at Hero FC and a former Legacy Fighting Alliance light heavyweight champion, Spann joined the UFC via the Contender Series 10 event where he scored a submission win over Emiliano Sordi. After beating Sordi, Spann won his first four UFC bouts before suffering his fist Octagon setback against Walker. Overall, Superman has a record of 21-7 with six knockouts and 12 submission victories.
This is not unfamiliar territory for Spann who has seen the plus money sign written next to his name in his previous four bouts. He opened at +105 against Misha Cirkunov, +140 against Anthony Smith, +155 against Ion Cutelaba, and +170 in his most recent bout against Reyes. Spann went 3-1 during that bottom dog stretch.
