While Ryan Spann (14-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) had earned his past four wins in the opening round, he had to go to the judges’ cards to pick up a UFC victory over Luis Henrique (10-5-1 MMA, 2-4 UFC).

The light heavyweight clash took place on the FS2-broadcast prelims of tonight’s UFC Fight Night 137 event from Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo. The contests followed additional prelims on UFC Fight Pass and aired prior to the main card on FS1.

Spann flashed a quick jab in the early going, sneaking in a few right hands, as well, while avoiding clinch attempts from his opponent. The punches bloodied his opponent’s nose in the early going, with the accurate strikes seeming to land at will. Spann was able to stuff a takedown attempt from his opponent, though a second effort from Henrique got the action tot he floor. It didn’t stay there long, as Spann scrambled up and briefly held a guillotine when Henrique tried to pick his opponent up and slam him to the floor. Only a perfectly executed roll allowed Henrique to escape and stay alive, scoring a late takedown in the closing seconds.

Spann again utilized a quick jab to open the second. Henrique tried to push inside for another takedown, but Spann defended well, sweeping to the top when his opponent landed an outside trip. Unfortunately for Spann, he didn’t hold the position, and Henrique was able to not only escape but also reverse the position, taking top control in his foe’s guard. Henrique went for a guillotine from the top, but Spann alertly rolled to the top and transitioned into a Von Flue attempt of his own. Spann couldn’t get the tap, but he unleashed a few punches at the close before the bell.

Henrique immediately shot inside to start the third, wrapping the body and tossing his opponent to the floor. Spann appeared to be the fresher man, and he did find a way to roll underneath and spin to the top, eventually working to side control. A few short elbows opened up a cut on Henrique’s forehead, and while the offense was minimal, Spann did control the positioning for the last several minutes of the final round. The two crawled to their feet in the final seconds and exchanged punches until the bell. In the end, Spann got the nod on the cards, 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.

“It was a tough fight, that’s what we expected from the beginning,” Spann said after the win. “We knew he was coming with everything, and we were prepared for it. He fought Francis Ngannou, lasted a few rounds, then dropped to the light heavyweight division. We knew it would be difficult, especially fighting a Brazilian in Brazil, with all the fans cheering against me. Now I just want to get better and fight again.”

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 137 results include:

• Ryan Spann def. Luis Henrique via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Augusto Sakai def. Chase Sherman via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 4:03
• Sergio Moraes def. Ben Saunders via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 4:42
• Mayra Bueno Silva def. Gillian Robertson via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 4:55
• Thales Leites def. Hector Lombard via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Luigi Vendramini via knockout (flying knee, punches) – Round 2, 1:20
• Livia Renata Souza def. Alex Chambers via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:21

For more on UFC Fight Night 137, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.