Steven Asplund

Steven Asplund vs. Sean Sharaf
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Asplund (-220); Sharaf (+180)

Round 1
Just like that, we’re back to a pair of heavyweights that many believe are a bit green for a UFC pickup, but nonetheless are about to throw down. Much like the previous heavyweight encounter tonight, these two come into this battle with all but one of their combined stoppages via strikes—and a doctor stoppage. “The Smoke” Sharaf (4-1, 0-1 UFC) got smoked by Junior Tafa over a year ago for his first career defeat, while LFA veteran Asplund (6-1, 0-0 UFC) graduated from its confines and punched out Anthony Guarascio in 16 seconds in September. There is no truth to the rumor that the cage was reinforced due to the combined 512 pounds of fighter in there now, not counting referee Mark Smith along for the wild ride. There is a glove touch that precedes the action.
Sharaf comes out immediately swinging big, but he throws himself off-balance and Asplund tees off on him. Asplund bounces away from looping right hands to hurt Sharaf with a pair of elbows, so Sharaf retaliates with a pair of vicious looping hooks. Sharaf rips a left hand over and around the guard, and Asplund has to reset from the blow and lands a low kick on his way out. Both fighters flash jabs at one another, and Sharaf loads up and drills Asplund with an elbow. Asplund dances out of the way when Sharaf lets more fists fly, and he pecks at the Xtreme Couture product with jabs that set up rights. Sharaf is loading up with everything he has with every swing, and Asplund is not avoiding them all. Sharaf plants a one-two on the chin, and Asplund replies with a string of punches that largely bang into the guard. Asplund sinks a heavy calf kick home, and Smith asks for the fighters to close their fists. Sharaf goes to the body in the midst of an exchange, and Asplund pays him back with a thudding right.
Asplund splits the guard with a front kick, and he is forced to retreat when Sharaf chains a few punches together. The two take turns bashing one another’s brains in, and Asplund snaps out a jab that splits the skin between Sharaf's eyebrows wide open. Blood flows down his face, allowing Asplund to target it and further bust it up. Asplund sways to evade a pair of hooks, but Sharaf rips a left to the liver that gets his attention. Asplund leans back to barely avoid a big right, and he cracks the bloody man with a crushing uppercut. Sharaf is tough as a two-dollar steak, and he has a veritable axe wound on his face, but he takes upright when Asplund rocks him and tries to punch him out. Sharaf backs away to get away from the bludgeoning, and Asplund chases him down and tosses a head kick at him. Asplund falls over when he misses the kick, and he springs back up. The two heavyweights brawl it out to the bell, and it’s anyone’s guess as to whether Sharaf will be allowed to continue the fight when the doctor checks out his massive forehead gash.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Asplund
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Asplund
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-8 Asplund

Round 2
Sharaf is cleared to keep fighting after all, although the cutman is unable to close the wound. Knowing he might be on borrowed time, Sharaf comes out firing, backing Asplund to the wall when he hurls bombs. Asplund bounces off the cage to throw back, and he walks into a standing elbow. Asplund loops a pair of rights over the guard, tagging “Head Wound Harry” and forcing Smith to ask Sharaf to fight back. Sharaf obliges him, swinging with all his might, but his lobs are labored and only a few land because of how telegraphed they are. Asplund takes them on the chin and keeps marching Sharaf down, putting fists to his face. Asplund brings up a low kick that pounds into the cup, the sound echoing through the Apex, and Smith calls time and immediately brings in the doctor—to check on the cut, and not because of the groin shot. Once more, Sharaf can go on because the cut is positioned between his eyes and not above them, thus not seriously obscuring his vision. After 70 seconds, Sharaf signals he is good to go, and they resume. Asplund goes right after him, planting jab after jab on the cut to open up follow-up right hands. Asplund prefers to touch rather than load up, while Sharaf is swinging for the bleachers. One such huge blow knocks Asplund back a few steps, but he gathers a full head of steam and continues to peck and probe at Sharaf’s face with straight strikes.
Asplund appears to finally hurt Sharaf with a long series of punches, and he backs Sharaf to the wall. Sharaf tries to fight back by hurling uppercuts at him, and Asplund dodges them and keeps working Sharaf over.
Smith implores Sharaf to fight back, and he does but is constantly under fire and barely still on his feet. Asplund strings a lengthy series of punches together, knocking Sharaf’s head around like a speed bag. Sharaf’s toughness is off the charts, but as Asplund continues to beat him relentlessly, Smith saves Sharaf from himself and waves the fight off.
The victorious Asplund celebrates by tweaking his nipples—Rashad Evans is pointing at the screen from the analyst booth like Leonardo DiCaprio in the infamous meme—and telling the camera that fat people can make a change and transform themselves like he did. His subsequent post-fight interview is one that those watching will remember for quite some time, so if you missed it, be sure to stick around after the bloodbath concludes to hear his inspiring message, his beautiful words for his family and his unadulterated joy and pride in doing what he loves.

The Official Result
Steven Asplund def. Sean Sharaf R2 3:49 via TKO (Punches)