Steven Asplund Faces Guilherme Pat in 7-2 vs 6-1 Heavyweight Featured Prelim

Q: With both heavyweights desperate to erase recent losses, who will survive this explosive collision at the UFC Apex?

Steven Asplund looks the likelier survivor, with the stronger evidence pointing to a stoppage win. The matchup is close enough to be dangerous for both men, but Asplund brings the more proven UFC-ready pressure game. Even in his loss to Vitor Petrino, he showed rare heavyweight volume, reportedly landing 168 significant strikes, and he already owns a UFC knockout win over Sean Sharaf. Six of his seven professional victories have come by KO or TKO, which fits the expectation of a high-action, short-notice-feeling brawl in the featured prelim slot. Pat is a legitimate live underdog. He is the taller, longer man, weighed in lighter at 249.5 pounds to Asplund’s 263.5, and has shown durability and composure despite suffering his first professional loss to Thomas Petersen. His reach and mobility give him a route to success if he can keep Asplund at range and avoid getting drawn into a pocket exchange. Still, the broader preview consensus favors Asplund for good reason. He has slightly more momentum at this level, more demonstrated finishing instinct, and a style built on pace and pressure that can overwhelm heavyweights not used to sustained output. He has also said he corrected mistakes from his last camp and arrived better prepared. If Pat survives the early chaos, his chances improve. But based on form, betting markets, and style, Asplund is the safer pick to survive the collision, most likely by first- or second-round KO/TKO.

3 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · Aug 8

The final preliminary bout of UFC Fight Night is set at heavyweight, with American Steven Asplund meeting Brazil's Guilherme Pat in the featured prelim.
Asplund enters at 7-2 after a decision loss to Vitor Petrino, while Pat is 6-1 and also coming off a decision defeat to Thomas Petersen.
Both heavyweights are trying to halt that slide with a statement win before the card moves to the main event portion.
The matchup closes the prelims, though the broadcast still has roughly 40 minutes to fill before the main card begins.