UFC Fight Night: Julius Walker vs Gerald Meerschaert Preview & Prediction

Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!

Two light heavyweights in desperate need of a win meet, Julius Walker takes on submission legend Gerald Meerschaert, who moves up to 205 pounds on a five fight skid.

Julius Walker vs Gerald Meerschaert facts

What time are Julius Walker and Gerald Meerschaert expected to walk out? 11 October 2026 at 1:45 am

Where is UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Duncan? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA

Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Duncan? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 290

What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Duncan on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount

Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Duncan? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass

UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Duncan main card

Brendan Allen vs Christian Leroy Duncan (Middleweight)

Matheus Camilo vs Jai Herbert (Lightweight)

Loopy Godinez vs Ketlen Souza (Women's Strawweight)

Andre Fili vs Kai Kamaka III (Featherweight)

Malcolm Wellmaker vs Otari Tanzilovi (Bantamweight)

UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Duncan prelims

Julius Walker vs Gerald Meerschaert (Light Heavyweight)

Francisco Prado vs Ismael Bonfim (Lightweight)

Niko Price vs Leon Shahbazyan (Welterweight)

Felipe Franco vs Brendson Ribeiro (Light Heavyweight)

Allen Frye Jr. vs RJ Harris (Heavyweight)

Alice Pereira vs Darya Zheleznyakova (Women's Bantamweight)

Ernesta Kareckaite vs Melissa Gatto (Women's Flyweight)

Julius Walker: “Juice Box” looks to stop the juice leaking

Julius Walker (7-3) is 1-3 inside the octagon and coming off back-to-back knockout losses. Dustin Jacoby stopped him in the second round in February, before Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev flattened him in eight seconds at UFC Baku in June. His lone UFC win came by decision over Raffael Cerqueira. Despite genuine pop in his hands, Walker does his best work as a grappler, forcing opponents back to the fence, smothering them in the clinch with elbows and knees, then dragging them down for heavy top control and ground and pound. On the feet he fights upright, slow to start and very hittable.

Gerald Meerschaert: “GM3” moves up in search of a lifeline

Gerald Meerschaert (37-22) is a true veteran of the sport, with 59 pro fights and the most submission wins in UFC middleweight history. The 38-year-old is now firmly on the back end of his career. He arrives on a five-fight skid that includes losses to RDR, Brad Tavares, Michal Oleksiejczuk, Kyle Daukaus, and Jacob Malkoun. He now moves up to light heavyweight after missing weight last time out. His game is built on scrambles and submission opportunism, with a lethal front choke system and good back takes, while at range he’s a southpaw kickboxer hunting for the left straight and body kick in the open stance match up. His chin is heavily compromised.

Julius Walker vs Gerald Meerschaert prediction

On paper, Walker holds the edge wherever this fight takes place. He’s a wrestler and GM3 is a submission grappler, and that distinction matters. Walker’s heavy top control and ground and pound give him a clear route to a finish, and he shouldn’t be careless enough to hand Meerschaert his neck, as long as he keeps his posture and doesn’t dive in.

On the feet, GM3 looks well past his best, and any clean shot Walker lands should stun or hurt him. Meerschaert also tends to freeze under pressure and let opponents bring the fight to him, which plays right into Walker’s habit of walking people back to the fence. The veteran will probably be happy to embrace the clinch, but against a fighter who dirty boxes with elbows and knees, that could be dangerous.

Walker’s own chin is a real concern after two straight KO losses, but GM3 has never been a big puncher and doesn’t carry the power to exploit it. If this were prime Meerschaert, I’d lean more towards him, but he’s taken way too much damage in recent years, and when he’s been stopped it’s usually come early. Just don’t be shocked if a careless Walker gets caught in a scramble, GM3 has made a career out of those moments.

Prediction: Julius Walker to win in round one