Sean Sharaf vs Steven Asplund
Men's Heavyweight Bout • UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Kape
Saturday, December 13, 2025 • UFC Apex (25ft, Small Cage)
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Sean Sharaf
Fighter Metrics
Victory Methods
Win Round Distribution
Steven Asplund
Fighter Metrics
Victory Methods
Win Round Distribution
📋 Last 5 Fights - Sean Sharaf
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-12 | Junior Tafa | L | TKO - Punches (R2, 2:15) |
| 2024-09-06 | L.J. Torres | W | KO - Punch (R1, 3:19) |
| 2024-04-04 | Chadricc Kindle | W | TKO - Punches (R1, 4:31) |
| 2023-07-01 | Nathan Mullett | W | TKO - Punches (R1, 0:09) |
| 2021-09-23 | Bruno Casillas | W | TKO - Punches (R1, 1:10) |
📋 Last 5 Fights - Steven Asplund
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-09-09 | Anthony Guarascio | W | TKO - Punch and Elbows (R1, 0:16) |
| 2025-04-11 | Raiden Kovacs | W | TKO - Elbow and Punches (R2, 1:53) |
| 2025-01-25 | Hammer Morton | W | TKO - Punches (R3, 1:29) |
| 2024-09-20 | Denzel Freeman | L | Submission - Rear-Naked Choke (R2, 1:17) |
| 2024-04-05 | Larry Gonzales | W | Decision - Unanimous (R3, 5:00) |
Technical Analysis
Technical Score
Cardio Score
Overall Rating
📊 Technical Score
Calculated as the average of Striking Composite (58.0 vs 73.0) and Grappling Composite (34.0 vs 38.0). Balances overall striking effectiveness with grappling ability to measure complete technical skills.
💪 Cardio Score
Based on average fight duration, striking rate per minute, takedown rate, and finish rate. Measures cardiovascular endurance and ability to maintain pace throughout fights.
🎯 Overall Rating
Simple average of Technical Score and Cardio Score. Provides a holistic view of fighter capabilities combining skill level with physical conditioning and fight performance.
Striking Composite
Grappling Composite
📊 Technical Radar Comparison
📊 Metrics Legend
📊 Detailed Statistical Comparison
🥊 Fight Analysis Breakdown
🧩 Sean Sharaf Key Advantages
Sharaf's four professional wins all came via KO/TKO in Round 1, demonstrating explosive early power that can end fights instantly. His ability to blitz opponents with heavy overhands and pocket exchanges creates immediate danger in the opening minutes. In the compressed 25-foot Apex cage, Sharaf's pressure style becomes even more effective as Asplund has less space to circle away. If Sharaf can land his signature overhand early before Asplund establishes rhythm, his 100% finish rate suggests this fight could end abruptly.
Sharaf's 2.07 takedowns per 15 minutes against Asplund's 0.00 TD attempts creates a grappling differential that could disrupt Asplund's striking rhythm. While Sharaf's 12% TD accuracy is low, his willingness to shoot represents an additional layer of offense that Asplund must respect. Failed takedown attempts can still burn time and create scrambles that favor Sharaf's explosive wrestling background. If hurt on the feet, Sharaf has shown he'll clinch and look for takedowns to recover and stall.
⚠️ Unfavorable Scenarios
If Sharaf fails to secure an early finish, his cardio weaknesses become exploitable. His UFC debut against Tafa saw him gassing by Round 2 after burning energy on failed blitzes. Sharaf's 2:17 average fight duration suggests he's never been tested in deep waters, and Asplund has proven R3 finishing ability. The longer this fight goes, the more Sharaf's defensive gaps (44% StrDef, 9.79 SApM) become targets for Asplund's accurate counters.
Asplund's 64% striking accuracy against Sharaf's 44% defense creates a dangerous mismatch when Sharaf leads. Sharaf's tendency to lumber forward with predictable overhands leaves him exposed to Asplund's crisp counter rights and elbows. The small cage that helps Sharaf close distance also means less room to escape when Asplund lands clean. Asplund's DWCS KO in 16 seconds proves he can capitalize on defensive mistakes with devastating efficiency.
📋 Likely Gameplan
Sharaf should come out firing immediately, targeting the body to close distance and then unleashing his power overhand. Jab-feint into overhand has worked for him before, and the small cage eliminates Asplund's ability to circle away. Sharaf needs to make this a phone booth brawl early, forcing Asplund to exchange in tight where defensive gaps matter less than raw power. His four R1 KOs prove this strategy can work against bigger men.
If the early blitz fails and Sharaf finds himself in extended striking exchanges, he should clinch and look for reactive takedowns to burn clock and recover. While his TD accuracy is low, the threat alone can disrupt Asplund's rhythm. Sharaf can frame off the cage and reset, buying time for his power to reload. This survival strategy mirrors what he attempted against Tafa before ultimately being finished.
🚀 Steven Asplund Key Advantages
Asplund's 64% striking accuracy against Sharaf's 44% defense creates a massive technical advantage in striking exchanges. Asplund landed 11 of 17 strikes in his DWCS win, demonstrating clinical precision under pressure. His ability to pick shots and counter Sharaf's aggressive entries with cleaner, more accurate strikes gives him a clear path to victory. Combined with 71% striking defense, Asplund can make Sharaf miss while landing clean, accumulating damage efficiently.
Asplund's win distribution across all three rounds (R1: 3, R2: 1, R3: 2) proves his power doesn't fade over time. His R3 TKO at LFA 200 against Hammer Morton shows he can finish fights late when opponents gas. This endurance advantage is critical against Sharaf, whose cardio is suspect. As Sharaf tires from failed blitzes, Asplund's power remains a constant threat, creating a cumulative danger that increases each passing minute.
At 6'5" with 78" reach versus Sharaf's 6'3"/77", Asplund can use his length to control distance and land from outside Sharaf's power range. His jab and straight punches can keep Sharaf at bay while his low kicks threaten the legs Sharaf needs for his explosive entries. The 9-pound weight advantage (261 vs 252) also gives Asplund more durability to absorb Sharaf's early power shots while maintaining his own finishing threat.
⚠️ Unfavorable Scenarios
If Asplund gets drawn into a wild brawl immediately, Sharaf's explosive power becomes more dangerous. The small cage eliminates escape routes, and Asplund's lack of wrestling defense (0% TDDef, untested in UFC) means scrambles could go badly. Sharaf's four first-round knockouts prove he can end fights in seconds when opponents engage recklessly. Asplund must remain disciplined early and not chase knockout punches that leave him exposed.
Asplund's lone loss came via rear-naked choke submission in R2, exposing potential defensive grappling gaps. While Sharaf's TD accuracy is low (12%), his 2.07 TD attempts per 15min create volume that could eventually break through. If Asplund finds himself on bottom after scrambles or clinch exchanges, his lack of grappling stats (0.0 TD/15, 0.0 Sub/15) suggests an undeveloped ground game that Sharaf could exploit to control time and survive.
📋 Likely Gameplan
Asplund should employ a high guard and patient countering approach for the first 90 seconds, weathering Sharaf's predictable early blitz. Make Sharaf miss with head movement and footwork, then counter with accurate straights when he overextends. By round 3 minutes, Sharaf's cardio weaknesses should manifest, allowing Asplund to increase output safely. His 71% striking defense suggests he can absorb the early pressure without taking fight-ending damage.
Once Sharaf shows fatigue signs, Asplund should systematically attack the body and legs to further drain his gas tank. Low kicks slow Sharaf's explosive entries, while body shots compound his cardio deficit. Asplund's proven R2-R3 finishing ability means he can afford to be patient, accumulating damage rather than rushing for the knockout. When the finish presents itself—likely mid-R2 or R3—Asplund can capitalize with his cleaner striking and superior conditioning.
📊 Expert Analysis Summary
Fight Dynamics
This heavyweight clash in the UFC Apex's small 25-foot cage pits Sharaf's explosive first-round power against Asplund's technical superiority and multi-round durability. Sharaf enters with a critical momentum deficit—his lone UFC outing exposed cardio limitations and defensive gaps that led to a R2 TKO loss to Junior Tafa. Asplund rides a 3-fight finish streak, including a devastating 16-second DWCS KO that earned his contract, demonstrating clinical finishing ability under pressure.
Statistical Edge
The numbers tell a clear story: Asplund's 64% striking accuracy against Sharaf's 44% defense creates a 20-point differential that heavily favors cleaner striking exchanges. Asplund's 71% striking defense versus Sharaf's 44% suggests he'll land more while absorbing less—a recipe for damage accumulation. Sharaf's 9.79 strikes absorbed per minute dwarfs Asplund's 6.88, indicating vulnerability to volume and accuracy that Asplund possesses. While Sharaf holds a grappling initiative advantage (2.07 TD/15 vs 0.00), his paltry 12% TD accuracy suggests this threat is more theoretical than practical.
Critical Factor: Cardio & Durability
The fight's outcome hinges on whether Sharaf can secure an early finish before his cardio craters. His four professional wins all ended in Round 1, with zero evidence of sustained output beyond five minutes. Asplund's win distribution (R1: 3, R2: 1, R3: 2) and his one decision victory prove he can maintain power and technique deep into fights. If Asplund survives the initial 90-120 seconds of Sharaf's blitz—which his 71% striking defense and 5-inch height advantage suggest he can—the fight tilts decisively in his favor as Sharaf's gas tank depletes.
🎯 Final Verdict
Prediction: Steven Asplund via TKO (R2 or R3) — 72% confidence
Asplund's technical striking superiority (64% accuracy vs 44%), defensive efficiency (71% defense vs 44%), and proven late-round finishing ability position him as the clear favorite. While Sharaf possesses genuine one-punch power that creates a 28% upset path, his narrow win condition requires a perfect early execution against a bigger, longer, more accurate counter-striker with superior conditioning. The small cage that benefits Sharaf's pressure also eliminates escape routes once Asplund begins landing clean in minutes 4-6 of Round 1. By mid-Round 2, expect Asplund to methodically break down a fading Sharaf with accurate combinations, culminating in a TKO stoppage when Sharaf's defensive gaps become catastrophic openings.