Vitor Petrino will now face Steven Asplund at the March 14 UFC card after Kennedy Nzechukwu withdrew, with Petrino and Asplund both having recent impressive performances.
Just four days after the UFC announced Vitor Petrino vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu for the March 14 card at the Meta APEX, there’s a twist. The Brazilian heavyweight now faces a new opponent: Steven Asplund.
Why the change? Multiple sources confirmed the switch to MMA Fighting on Tuesday. But the reason behind Nzechukwu’s exit? Still a mystery.
Petrino, with a record of 13-2, has been on a roll since moving to heavyweight in 2025. He tapped out Austen Lane with a slick rear-naked choke. Then, he snagged a $50,000 performance bonus for a third-round KO over Thomas Petersen at UFC Rio. Impressive stuff.
Asplund, boasting a 7-1 record, made waves with a knockout win over Sean Sharaf in his UFC debut last December. Before that, a lightning-fast 16-second KO of Anthony Guarascio at Dana White’s Contender Series earned him his contract. Talk about making an entrance!
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