The upcoming UFC Fight Night event, headlined by Josh Emmett vs. Kevin Vallejos, includes a heavyweight showdown between Brazilian veteran Vitor Petrino and American newcomer Steven Asplund. This bout is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Meta APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.
The main card kicks off at 5:00 PM PDT / 8:00 PM EDT, with prelims starting at 2:00 PM PDT / 5:00 PM EDT (streamed on Paramount+).
As part of the UFC’s APEX series, this card is expected to feature fast-paced action in the smaller Octagon, which often leads to higher finish rates.
Injury Report
- Vitor Petrino: No active injuries reported. Petrino previously withdrew from a fight in early 2025 due to lateral epicondylitis (elbow issues) but has since returned with two wins, showing no lingering effects.
- Steven Asplund: No injuries noted. Asplund entered the UFC healthy and secured a debut win in December 2025 without issues, maintaining a strong recent finishing streak.
This matchup was originally Petrino vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu, but Nzechukwu withdrew due to an undisclosed injury, leading to Asplund stepping in on relatively short notice.
Fighter Matchups and Breakdown
This heavyweight tilt contrasts Petrino’s well-rounded experience and power with Asplund’s striking volume and knockout ability. Petrino, who moved up from light heavyweight in 2025, brings UFC-tested durability (8-2 in the promotion) against Asplund’s explosive but less proven style (1-0 in UFC). Asplund holds slight height (6’5″ vs. 6’2″) and reach advantages (78″ vs. 77″), potentially favoring stand-up wars, but Petrino’s grappling edge (2 UFC subs) could neutralize that if he closes distance.
Both are orthodox strikers, with Asplund known for high-output pressure (set UFC HW strike record in debut) and Petrino for efficient power shots.
| Fighter | Age | Record | Height/Reach | Stance | Fight Style Highlights |
| Vitor Petrino | 28 | 13-2-0 | 6’2″ / 77″ | Orthodox | Versatile Brazilian with 62% KO rate (8 KOs), 15% subs (2). Strong takedowns (1.5 avg. per 15 min), 46% striking accuracy; durable but vulnerable to elite finishers lately. |
| Steven Asplund | 27 | 7-1-0 | 6’5″ / 78″ | Orthodox | American KO specialist with 86% KO rate (6 KOs). Massive strike volume (19.93 SLpM), 58% accuracy; untested grappling but explosive early (all wins by finish). |
Recent Form
- Vitor Petrino: Petrino has rebounded strongly at heavyweight, going 2-0 in the division after back-to-back losses at 205 lbs.
- He’s 3-2 in his last five, blending finishes with decisions, showing improved cardio but questions remain about his chin against power punchers.
Recent Fights:
- Oct 11, 2025: Win vs. Thomas Petersen (KO/TKO – Punch, R3, UFC Fight Night)
- Jul 12, 2025: Win vs. Austen Lane (Submission – RNC, R1, UFC Fight Night)
- Dec 14, 2024: Loss vs. Dustin Jacoby (KO/TKO – Punch, R3, UFC Fight Night)
- May 4, 2024: Loss vs. Anthony Smith (Submission – Guillotine, R1, UFC 301)
- Mar 2, 2024: Win vs. Tyson Pedro (Unanimous Decision, UFC Fight Night)
- Steven Asplund: Asplund is on a four-fight win streak, all by KO/TKO, entering the UFC via DWCS and impressing in his debut.
- He’s 4-1 in his last five, with his sole loss via submission, highlighting potential grappling weaknesses but dominant striking.
Recent Fights:
- Dec 13, 2025: Win vs. Sean Sharaf (KO/TKO – Punches, R2, UFC Fight Night)
- Sep 9, 2025: Win vs. Anthony Guarascio (KO/TKO – Elbows, R1, DWCS)
- Apr 10, 2025: Win vs. Raiden Kovacs (KO/TKO, R2, LFA 206)
- Jan 25, 2025: Win vs. Hammer Morton (KO/TKO, R3, LFA 200)
- Sep 20, 2024: Loss vs. Denzel Freeman (Submission, R2, LFA 193)
Fight History
This is the first professional encounter between Petrino and Asplund, with no prior head-to-head history or shared opponents of note.
Petrino’s extensive UFC experience (10 fights) gives him an edge in Octagon familiarity, while Asplund’s regional background and recent debut suggest he’s still adapting to elite competition.
FIGHT ODDS
Vitor Petrino – 250
Steven Asplund + 190
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, March 13, 2026
