UFC 319: Gerald Meerschaert vs Michal Oleksiejczuk Preview & Prediction
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Gerald Meerschaert throws down with former light heavyweight, Michal Oleksiejczuk, in a middleweight bout that is highly unlikely to require the judges' scorecards.
Gerald Meerschaert vs Michal Oleksiejczuk facts
What time are Gerald Meerschaert and Michal Oleksiejczuk expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 319: Du Plessis vs Chimaev? United Center, Chicago, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC 319: Du Plessis vs Chimaev? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 319
What TV channel is UFC 319: Du Plessis vs Chimaev on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC 319: Du Plessis vs Chimaev? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 319: De Plessis vs Chimaev main card
Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev (Middleweight)
Lerone Murphy vs Aaron Pico (Featherweight)
Geoff Neal vs Carlos Prates (Welterweight)
Jared Cannonier vs Michael Page (Middleweight)
Tim Elliott vs Kai Asakura (Flyweight)
UFC 319: De Plessis vs Chimaev prelims
Gerald Meerschaert vs Michal Oleksiejczuk (Middleweight)
Baysangur Susurkaev vs Eric Nolan (Middleweight)
Jessica Andrade vs Loopy Godinez (Women’s Strawweight)
Chase Hooper vs Alexander Hernandez (Lightweight)
Edson Barboza vs Drakkar Klose (Lightweight)
Bryan Battle vs Nursulton Ruziboev (Middleweight)
Karine Silva vs Dione Barbosa (Women’s Flyweight)
Alibi Idiris vs Joseph Morales (Flyweight)
Gerald Meerschaert: "GM3" looks to score his thirteenth stoppage at middleweight and arrest a two fight losing streak
Credited with the most finishes in UFC middleweight history, Gerald Meerschaert (37-19) is as battle tested as they come. The submission ace has made a career of weathering an early storm to drag his opponents into deep waters, leaning on his toughness, cardio, and grappling acumen to find a late finish. Meerschaert has been clobbered early by the likes of Khamzat Chimaev and Joe Pyfer throughout his UFC tenure, but for every first round KO he has suffered, there's usually two contests where he absorbs damage early and comes back with a vengeance to win by late submission. While "GM3" enters this contest on a two-fight skid, it's worth noting that he recently gave the streaking Reinier de Ridder one of his toughest UFC fights to date.
Michal Oleksiejczuk: The latest addition to "The Fighting Nerds," can the heavy handed Michal Oleksiejczuk get the notoriously tough Meerschaert out of there early?
Entering this middleweight tilt off the back of an impressive first round TKO over Sedriques Dumas at UFC 314, Polish bruiser, Michal Oleksiejczuk (20-9, 1 NC), looks to maintain his momentum after pumping the brakes on a chastening three fight loss streak. Credited with four performance bonuses throughout his UFC tenure, the former light heavyweight "Hussar" is renowned for his skull rattling power; a status quo that has seen him score 15 knockouts in 20 professional victories. The Fighting Nerds' latest addition is an aggressive striker who gets in his opponents' faces with vicious punches and kicks from the very first bell; the only major chink in Oleksiejczuk's armor has historically proven to be his grappling.
Gerald Meerschaert vs Michal Oleksiejczuk prediction
As is the case with most Meerschaert fights, it's hard to pick against "GM3" should the American survive the early stages of this contest. Oleksiejczuk has been stopped by submission on no less than six occasions throughout his career, indicating that he fits the mold for opponents that Meerschaert has typically been able to outlast and finish on paper.
However, getting the Polish bruiser into the later rounds will be easier said than done. "Hussar" hits like a truck and could conceivably overwhelm his American counterpart with sheer power and aggression before the fight even gets going in earnest. If Ian Heinisch was able to score a first round TKO against Meerschaert more than five years ago, Oleksiejczuk is more than capable of sending his opponent astral traveling in short order. Meerschaert has absorbed a huge amount of damage throughout the course of his 56 fight career, and this could prove to be the day that the miles finally catch up with him in irrevocable fashion.
However, while the oddsmakers may be leaning towards Oleksiejczuk to get this one done, this highly competitive tilt is arguably far more suited to "pick 'em" odds. The Pole either folds Meerschaert with something murderous early or eventually wilts under "GM3's" pressure, allowing the American to find his trademark late submission.
Prediction: Fight will not go the distance
