<?php

	$string = "<strong>Blabla1</strong> Blaabla2<br /> Blaabla3 <strong>Blaabla4</strong> Blaabla5 Blaabla6<br /><br /> Blaabla7 <span style='color:#B22222;'>Blaabla8</span> Blaabla9";
	
	$matches = preg_split('/(<br.*?>|<span.*>)+\K|\s/sim', $string, null, PREG_SPLIT_NO_EMPTY );
	
	var_dump($matches);