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Steven Asplund is looking to showcase his skills in a big opportunity against Vitor Petrino at UFC Fight Night 269.
In just his second octagon appearance, Asplund (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) will face a ranked opponent in Petrino (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) on the main card of Saturday’s event at the UFC APEX (Paramount+), and he plans to make the most of the moment.
“I’m living the dream,” Asplund told MMA Junkie during Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 269 media day. “I can’t believe a main card opportunity came so quickly, let alone against a top-15 opponent. I’m ready. I’m ready for it. I always say: anyone, anywhere, anytime. I don’t care. I stand by that.”
At 27, Asplund is determined to rise through the heavyweight division, driven by a strong desire to provide financial security for his family. Petrino now stands in his path, and Asplund says he has plenty of motivation heading into the fight.
Petrino is coming off a third-round knockout win over Asplund’s teammate, Thomas Petersen, in October, which adds another layer of motivation for Asplund.
“There’s a little bit of history there,” Asplund said. “As soon as I heard the name Vitor, I thought, ‘F*ck yeah.’ It’s not really bad blood, but there’s something there. He beat my brother in October, and I felt like Tommy was winning that fight. I wanted to see Vitor get knocked out in that one. I definitely believe I can knock this guy out. I’m excited to go out there and do what I do.”
Despite his confidence, Asplund also acknowledged Petrino’s physical presence, saying he’s eager to prove that appearance doesn’t determine the outcome of a fight.
“He’s a monster,” Asplund said. “Honestly, he could be a model. The guy looks like The Rock. It’s almost like a battle between the worst physique and the best physique in the heavyweight division. I’m excited to show some love for the fat boys on Saturday.”
