“Do you bleed?” This question is something that every Batman fan would want to ask Ryan Spann during a face-off. Why? The light, heavyweight prospect has Superman’s logo inked to his chest. And guess what the fight fans usually call him? ‘Superman’! The Memphis native has proven his super-strength by winning 21 of his professional MMA fights, out of which, 15 came via first-round finishes.

And how can we forget the beautiful ‘Tree of Life’ designed on his back? So without wasting any more time, let’s learn everything there is to know about the tattoos that have graced Spann’s body.

What does Ryan Spann’s back tattoo mean?

Spann got himself a ‘Tree of Life’ tattooed on his back. The inks cover a majority of his back, running from his nape to his waist. In an Instagram post, the light heavyweight contender revealed that the very first session of his back tattoo took about 30 minutes more than 5 hours to complete. Imagine the kind of pain he would have had to endure. But it was all worth it in the end.

In the social media post, ‘Superman’ thanked the tattoo artist, Flip, and wrote, “bringing out my vision of the tree of life and dream catchers to represent everything I hold dear to me. After my fight we will finish up with more details and color.” But the fighting community has kept on wondering about the meaning behind the tattoo.

Well, the ‘Tree of Life’ reflects the afterlife and the connection that holds heaven and earth together. This created a bond between men and trees, which were believed to be the gatekeepers to the Celtic heaven. For the ancient Egyptians, the ‘Tree of Life’s branches symbolized abundance, while the roots pointed at death. 

In the African culture, the baobab trees are considered to be the representatives of the ‘Tree of Life’. These trees are known to provide fruit in the dry, arid regions. Hence, symbolizing life and nourishment. The Buddhists look at the ‘Tree of Life’ as a symbol of enlightenment and existence. After all, Buddha found enlightenment under a sacred tree. 

While the tattoo on Spann’s back has different meanings in different cultures, one thing is certain. It reflected the light heavyweight fighter’s inclination towards the spiritual stuff. Now, let’s shift the focus to the other inks that have covered Spann’s body.

Ryan Spann chest tattoos and other inks

The other prominent tattoo on Spann’s body is the ‘S’ on his chest. Needless to say, that’s nothing but Superman’s symbol. Unlike Henry Cavill’s symbol of hope, Spann has inked his chest to show his resilience, strength, and spirit as a mixed martial artist. It also points at his nickname that goes along with the ‘Man of Steel’. 

‘Superman’ also has an intricate design inked on his right shoulder and arm. Unfortunately, the details of this particular design are not yet revealed. But it does look like something out of tribal folklore. On the right side of his chest, just between Superman’s symbol and the shoulder tattoo, Spann has inked the word ‘Blessed’. 

No wonder, these tattoos will attract quite a bit of attention as the light heavyweight fighter gets ready to land against Ovince Saint Preux at UFC 307. And Spann would try his best to conquer the Octagon against Preux. Nevertheless, it is destined to be one of the most exciting matches of the evening.

What are your thoughts on the inks on Spann’s body? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.