Daniel Spohn
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Daniel Spohn (born October 12, 1984) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Light Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2006, he has competed for the UFC, Bellator, and was a competitor on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn.
Background
Spohn was born in Abilene, Texas on October 12, 1984, to Frank and Joan Spohn. Dan has one brother, Jonathan Spohn, two half brothers, Frank Spohn Jr. and Jason Hammonds, and two half sisters, Kelly and Christie. In 1996 Joan and her three sons, Jason, Dan, and Jonathan moved to Cambridge, Ohio where three years later Dan attended classes at Cambridge Mixed Martial Arts where he studied under Tim McConahay. Spohn attended John Glenn High School in New Concord, Ohio and graduated in 2003. Spohn began training in Kung Fu at the age of 12 and at age 14 began training in Aiki Jitsu. Dan has studied traditional Kachido Aikijitsu for the past 17 years under Sensei Tim McConahay. He holds the rank of 3rd degree black belt in the art, and serves as a part-time co-instructor at Cambridge Martial Arts dojo when he is back in his hometown. Spohn currently trains Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Vitor Oliveira at Ronin training center and holds the rank of Purple belt.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Spohn made his amateur MMA debut in 2006. Over the next three and a half years, he amassed a record of 9–4.
In November 2009, Spohn made his professional MMA debut. He was undefeated for the first two years of his career, with a record of 6 wins. Daniel Spohn holds one of the fastest knockouts in Bellator history with a flying knee 9 second KO. He suffered his first professional defeat against Kelvin Tiller at Bellator 56 via split decision. His next loss in Bellator also came by split decision against Slovak fighter Atilla Vegh.
The Ultimate Fighter
In March 2014, the UFC officially announced the list of fighters competing on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn season with Spohn listed as one entrant.
Spohn made it onto the show by winning his preliminary match against Tyler King via spectacular 10 second knockout. UFC President Dana White called it the "probably the nastiest fucking knockout" of the entire show's history. In the elimination round, Spohn faced Todd Monaghan and won by unanimous decision. In the semifinals, he faced Matt Van Buren and lost via TKO in the second round after an exciting war which won "fight of the season".
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Despite not making it to the finals, Spohn was one of only two competitors from the series brought back to be featured on the finale. He faced Team Edgar semifinalist Patrick Walsh on July 6, 2014. He lost the bout via unanimous decision and was subsequently released from the promotion.
Spohn is undefeated in 5 of his last 6 fights since being released from UFC and currently holds two regional titles. He is the current Gladiators of the Cage Light Heavyweight champion and also the CFFC Heavyweight Champion. Spohn declared that he is working his way back to the UFC.But, he is also took a career in PFL.
Professional Fighters League
Spohn faced Marthin Nielsen on April 29, 2021, at PFL 2 as the start of the 2021 PFL Light Heavyweight tournament. He lost the bout via technical submission to an arm-triangle choke in the second round.
Spohn faced Emiliano Sordi at PFL 5 on June 17, 2021. After Sordi was deducted a point in the first round due to strikes to the back of the head, the bout ended in a unanimous draw.
Post PFL
Spohn was scheduled to face Satoshi Ishii at HEAT 50 on May 7, 2022. However, the bout was scrapped after Spohn tested positive for coronavirus.
Spohn faced Dequan Townsend on October 8, 2022, at Ohio Combat League 22. He won the bout via unanimous decision.
Spohn, replacing a suspended Rob Wilkinson, faced Ty Flores on June 8, 2023, at PFL 4. At weigh-ins, Ty Flores weighed in at 211.2 pounds, 5.2 pounds over the Light Heavyweight limit. He was fined 20% of his purse which went to Spohn and he was given a one-point penalty in the standings. Spohn lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Spohn is set to fight for the Superior Challenge Light Heavyweight title against Bellator veteran Karl Albrektsson on May 25, 2024 at Superior Challenge 27.
Championships and accomplishments
- North American Allied Fight Series NAAFS Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
- Cage Fury Fighting Championships CFFC Heavyweight Championship (One time)
- AllianceMMA Heavyweight Champion (ITFightSeries) (Current)
- Gladiators of the Cage LHW Champion (Current)
Mixed martial arts record
| 29 matches | 19 wins | 9 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 1 |
| By submission | 5 | 2 |
| By decision | 7 | 6 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 19–9–1 | Ty Flores | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 4 (2023) | June 8, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Catchweight (211.2 lb) bout; Flores missed weight. |
| Win | 19–8–1 | Dequan Townsend | Decision (unanimous) | Ohio Combat League 22 | October 8, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Columbus, Ohio, United States | |
| Draw | 18–8–1 | Emiliano Sordi | Draw (unanimous) | PFL 5 (2021) | June 17, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Sordi was deducted a point in the first round due to strikes to the back of the head. |
| Loss | 18–8 | Marthin Hamlet | Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) | PFL 2 (2021) | April 29, 2021 | 2 | 0:52 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 18–7 | Bazigit Atajev | KO (punches) | PFL 3 (2019) | June 6, 2019 | 1 | 3:25 | Uniondale, New York, United States | |
| Loss | 18–6 | Sean O'Connell | Decision (majority) | PFL 9 (2018) | October 13, 2018 | 2 | 5:00 | Long Beach, California, United States | 2018 PFL Light Heavyweight Quarterfinal bout. |
| Win | 18–5 | Artur Alibulatov | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 5 (2018) | August 2, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Uniondale, New York, United States | |
| Win | 17–5 | Bazigit Ataev | TKO (punches) | PFL 2 (2018) | June 21, 2018 | 3 | 4:31 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 16–5 | Angel DeAnda | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Dana White's Contender Series 2 | July 18, 2017 | 1 | 3:10 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–5 | Flavio Rogerio Magon | Decision (unanimous) | Hard Knocks 53 | January 27, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 14–5 | Jeff Hughes | TKO (punches) | Alpha One Sports: IT Fight Series 48 | December 10, 2016 | 5 | 2:02 | Columbus, Ohio, United States | Won the Alpha One Sports Heavyweight Championship. Heavyweight bout. |
| Win | 13–5 | Rob Morrow | TKO (punches) | GOTC MMA 21 | June 4, 2016 | 3 | 1:04 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States | Won the GOTC MMA Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 12–5 | Rodney Wallace | Decision (unanimous) | Hard Knocks 48 | January 29, 2016 | 5 | 5:00 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | For the HKFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Return to Light Heavyweight. |
| Win | 12–4 | Azunna Anyanwu | TKO (punches) | CFFC 53 | December 4, 2015 | 2 | 3:24 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | Heavyweight debut; Won the CFFC Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 11–4 | Lewis Rumsey | Decision (unanimous) | Gladiators of the Cage 17 | June 6, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Butler, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Win | 10–4 | Marcus Finch | TKO (punches) | Absolute Cage Fighting | March 6, 2015 | 3 | 3:15 | Columbus, Ohio, United States | |
| Win | 9–4 | Michael Cockerham | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Alpha One Sports: IT Fight Series 29 | November 22, 2014 | 1 | 0:42 | Columbus, Ohio, United States | |
| Loss | 8–4 | Patrick Walsh | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn Finale | July 6, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 8–3 | Aaron Mays | Submission (armbar) | UVC 23: Invasion | May 10, 2013 | 1 | 2:41 | Columbus, Ohio, United States | |
| Win | 7–3 | Robert Morrow | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UVC 22: Mayhem | February 16, 2013 | 2 | 4:03 | Columbus, Ohio, United States | |
| Loss | 6–3 | Josh Stansbury | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 71 | June 22, 2012 | 1 | 2:30 | Chester, West Virginia, United States | |
| Loss | 6–2 | Attila Vegh | Decision (split) | Bellator 66 | April 20, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Cleveland, Ohio, United States | |
| Loss | 6–1 | Kelvin Tiller | Decision (split) | Bellator 56 | October 29, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Dane Bonnigson | KO (knee) | Bellator 51 | September 24, 2011 | 1 | 0:09 | Canton, Ohio, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | John Hawk | Decision (unanimous) | NAAFS: Spohn vs. Hawk 2 | May 21, 2011 | 5 | 5:00 | Streetsboro, Ohio, United States | Won the NAAFS Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 4–0 | Josh Hendricks | TKO (doctor stoppage) | NAAFS: Caged Fury 14 | February 26, 2011 | 1 | 1:57 | Cleveland, Ohio, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | John Hawk | Decision (unanimous) | NAAFS: Rock N Rumble 4 | August 28, 2010 | 3 | 3:00 | Cleveland, Ohio, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Christopher Thad Schlichter | Decision (unanimous) | NAAFS: Caged Fury 11 | April 24, 2009 | 3 | 3:00 | East Liverpool, Ohio, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Josh Stansbury | Submission (guillotine choke) | NAAFS: Caged Fury 8 | November 25, 2009 | 2 | 1:01 | East Liverpool, Ohio, United States |
Mixed martial arts amateur record
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 5–2 | Jason Butcher | Submission (rear-naked choke) | NAAFS: Caged Fury 7 | October 9, 2009 | 2 | 1:38 | Cleveland, Ohio, United States | |
| Win | 5–1 | Lewis Rumsey | TKO (punches) | NAAFS: Rock N Rumble 3 | August 29, 2009 | 2 | 1:53 | Cleveland, Ohio, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Joshua Moore | Decision (unanimous) | NAAFS: North Coast Showdown 3 | June 12, 2009 | 3 | 3:00 | Sandusky, Ohio, United States | |
| Loss | 3–1 | Chuck Ellison | KO (punch) | NAAFS: North Coast Showdown 1 | September 16, 2006 | 1 | 0:40 | Euclid, Ohio, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Lou Ludwig | TKO (punches) | NAAFS: Thursday Night Fights | August 3, 2006 | 1 | 1:36 | Akron, Ohio, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Dave Osborne | Submission (rear-naked choke) | NAAFS: Fight Night in the Flats 2 | June 10, 2006 | 1 | 1:00 | Cleveland, Ohio, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Anthony Pray | KO (punches) | NAAFS: Caged Fury 1 | May 6, 2006 | 2 | N/A | Dover, Ohio, United States |