Marcus Buchecha faces Ryan Spann in UFC Fight Night 274 opener
Marcus Buchecha and Ryan Spann open the UFC Fight Night 274 main card on Saturday at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, with the matchup set as a heavyweight clash and a short-notice change for Buchecha’s original opponent. The fight is expected to begin at approximately 8: 10 p. m. ET, and the card streams live on Paramount+.
Buchecha enters at 5-2-1 in MMA and 0-1-1 in the UFC, still chasing his first UFC victory after a decision loss and a draw in his first two appearances. Spann brings a 23-11 MMA record and a 9-6 UFC mark into his heavyweight run, coming off a first-round submission win over Lukasz Brzeski last July and sitting 1-1 at heavyweight.
Marcus Buchecha and Ryan Spann set for fast-start heavyweight test
The fight was originally scheduled to feature Marcus Buchecha against Max Gimenis, but Spann steps in on short notice. That detail matters because the matchup is being framed as one that could be dangerous early for Spann, especially with the smaller cage and the limited time to prepare for the switch.
Marcus Buchecha last won by submission against Amir Aliakbari at ONE 169 in November 2024. Spann’s first heavyweight appearance ended in a second-round loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta last March, and this bout now gives him another chance to build momentum in the division.
Marcus Buchecha vs. Ryan Spann prediction leans toward grappling
The projected read on the fight is that Spann is live to win early, but the edge goes to the superior submission grappler. The pick is Marcus Buchecha to secure a submission by the end of Round 1, a call shaped by the short-notice setup and the smaller cage.
The betting market also tilts toward Marcus Buchecha, with Buchecha listed at -136 and Spann at +116. That framing matches the sense around the bout: Spann has finishing power and early danger, but Marcus Buchecha has the cleaner path if he can close distance and turn the fight into a grappling exchange.
Immediate read from the matchup
Dan Tom, an analyst for MMA Junkie, described the bout as one that could be wild for as long as it lasts, while also backing Marcus Buchecha on the basis of submission skill and the circumstances around Spann’s short-notice entry. The fight sits on a main card that begins with a heavyweight spotlight rather than a slower buildup, which adds urgency to the opening minutes.
For Spann, the assignment is simple: prove the move up at heavyweight can keep producing results. For Marcus Buchecha, this is a chance to turn strong grappling into a first UFC win after two trips to the cage without a victory.
What comes next at the Apex
If the fight goes the way the prediction suggests, Marcus Buchecha will finally leave with a UFC win and a result that could stabilize his run at heavyweight. If Spann lands first and makes the bout messy, the short-notice storyline may quickly flip into a statement win for the veteran moving through the division. Either way, Marcus Buchecha vs. Ryan Spann is built for a fast answer once the cage door closes in Las Vegas.
