UFC Fight Night: Mario Pinto vs Ryan Spann Preview & Prediction

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Heavyweight finishers square off in a bout that is unlikely to go the distance, as Mario Pinto throws down against Ryan Spann.

Mario Pinto vs Ryan Spann facts

What time are Mario Pinto and Ryan Spann expected to walk out? 5 September 2026 at 7:35 pm

Where is UFC Fight Night: Hooker vs Parnasse? Accor Arena, Paris, France

Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Hooker vs Parnasse? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 287

What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Hooker vs Parnasse on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount

Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Hooker vs Parnasse? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass

UFC Fight Night: Hooker vs Parnasse main card

Dan Hooker vs Salahdine Parnasse (Lightweight)

Fares Ziam vs Axel Sola (Lightweight)

Michael Page vs Nursulton Ruziboev (Middleweight)

Daniil Donchenko vs Punahele Soriano (Welterweight)

Morgan Charriere vs Felipe Lima (Featherweight)

Losene Keita vs Muhammad Naimov (Featherweight)

Mario Pinto vs Ryan Spann (Heavyweight)

Kurtis Campbell vs Trevor Peek (Featherweight)

Nathaniel Wood vs Pavel Andrusca (Featherweight)

Oumar Sy vs Modestas Bukauskas (Light Heavyweight)

Michael Aljarouj vs Fabia Sintes (Flyweight)

Nora Cornolle vs Klaudia Sygula (Women's Bantamweight)

Matthieu Letho Duclos vs Luis Felipe Dias (Middleweight)

Delphine Benouaich vs Sofia Montenegro (Women's Strawweight)

UFC Fight Night: Hooker vs Parnasse prelims

TO FOLLOW…

Mario Pinto: The heavyweight prospect seeks to produce a statement victory after his first decision in the promotion

A lackluster decision win over Felipe Franco marked the first trip to the scorecards for Mario Pinto (12-0) under the UFC banner, dampening some of the highly touted prospect’s hype in the process. The Contender Series graduate is 3-0 in the promotion, with wins over Austen Lane, Jhonata Diniz, and the aforementioned Franco since earning a contract. Representing Portugal and England, Pinto looks like a heavyweight prospect designed in a lab, standing 6’5” with a 79” reach. He’s got KO power on the feet and excellent jiu-jitsu, flowing smoothly through transitions in a manner more akin to a middleweight than a 265 pounder.

Ryan Spann: Does "Superman" have enough left in the tank to take out one of the division's most highly touted prospects?

2-1 at heavyweight since making the jump from 205 pounds, Ryan Spann (24-11) enters this matchup off the back of consecutive finishes over Lukasz Brzeski and Marcus Buchecha. Best known for a murderous KO over Dominick Reyes during his time at light heavyweight, Spann is a power puncher with an excellent submission game that includes a particularly nasty guillotine. One of the biggest 205 pounders in UFC history, Spann’s 6’5” frame means that he’s right at home a weight class up. However, while he’s always been a dangerous finisher, he’s just as synonymous with poor fight IQ and questionable cardio.

Mario Pinto vs Ryan Spann prediction

Pinto might have had a stinker last time out but I’m still really high on his potential. As such, I'm confidently picking him to win here.

Make no mistake, Spann is certainly dangerous. He’s got KO power and has excellent chokes from the front headlock position. If Pinto gets reckless, there’s certainly a path to victory for “Superman” here.

The issue is that outside of his fight ending moves, Spann is often more than content to stand menacingly at range while doing absolutely nothing. That might work against a Lukasz Brzeski or a Marcus Buchecha, but Pinto is an elite, well-rounded prospect who is active and dangerous wherever the fight takes place. Spann is also 35, is renowned for lapses in fight IQ, and has taken a TON of damage over the years.

I trust Pinto to keep the fight out Spann’s wheelhouse here. I think he’s either going to run the American over with a well timed double leg and subsequently TKO him GNP, or simply catch him with a nuke out in the open like his win over Austen Lane.

However he does it, the pick is Pinto by TKO.

Prediction: Mario Pinto to win by TKO