Krylov v Spann did not go to plan at the APEX Facility in Las Vegas on Sunday morning, with the main event cancelled after Nikita Krylov fell ill and was not given medical clearance to compete.
This saw the co-main event, a middleweight match between Andre Muniz and Brendan Allen, elevated to top billing.
The former was chasing a 10th straight win, but instead it was Allen who triumphed, riding the momentum he gained from being the initial aggressor in the fight.
Allen kept the pressure high in the second round, firing combinations first as he controlled the centre of the cage. Muniz looked to mix things up with grappling, but his takedown was reversed and ended up on his back. Allen landed a few strikes while maintaining top position.
With about two minutes remaining in the third round, Allen caught a kick to the body and lifted Muniz up for a big slam to the mat. A moment later, Allen took the back and cinched in a rear-naked choke. It took a couple of adjustments, but Allen was able to get his arm under the neck to force a tap for an impressive finish at 4:25.
“I’m Brendan Allen, I’m good enough, I’m damn good enough,” said Allen in his post-fight press conference, having earlier called to face the likes of Sean Strickland, Chris Curtis, Jack Hermansson and Dricus Du Plessis. “I’m trying to fight everybody in this [division].”
The remainder of the main card saw Augusto Sakai outpoint Don’Tale Mayes in a heavyweight bout; Tatiana Suarez submitted Montana De La Rosa in a women’s featherweight clash; and Mike Malott made quick work of Yohan Lainesse in a welterweight opener.
The next UFC event sees the return of MMA legend Jon Jones, as he takes on Ciryl Gane in a heavyweight championship match at UFC 285 in Las Vegas on the morning of Sunday 5 March.
UFC Fight Night: Krylov v Spann – Main card results
- Main event: Light heavyweight: Nikita Krylov v Ryan Spann – N/A as Krylov fell ill during the event
- Middleweight: Brendan Allen def. Andre Muniz via submission (rear-naked choke), R3, 4:25
- Heavyweight: Augusto Sakai def. Don’Tale Mayes via unanimous decision (30-27 30-27 30-27), R3, 5:00
- Women’s featherweight: Tatiana Suarez def. Montana De La Rosa via submission (guillotine choke), R2, 2:51
- Welterweight: Mike Malott def. Yohan Lainesse via submission (arm triangle choke), R1, 4:15