Career Averages - Joe Pyfer
Career Averages - Gerald Meerschaert
Joe Pyfer
Gerald Meerschaert
Joe Pyfer - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Israel Adesanya | 0 | 42 of 75 | 56% | 58 of 92 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joe Pyfer | 0 | 36 of 70 | 51% | 52 of 90 | 2 of 8 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 2:44 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Israel Adesanya | 0 | 24 of 42 | 57% | 37 of 56 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joe Pyfer | 0 | 9 of 23 | 39% | 9 of 23 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 1:01 | |
| 2 | Israel Adesanya | 0 | 18 of 33 | 54% | 21 of 36 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joe Pyfer | 0 | 27 of 47 | 57% | 43 of 67 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 1:43 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Israel Adesanya | 42 of 75 | 56% | 22 of 54 | 8 of 8 | 12 of 13 | 42 of 74 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Pyfer | 36 of 70 | 51% | 33 of 64 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 3 | 18 of 42 | 2 of 7 | 16 of 21 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Israel Adesanya | 24 of 42 | 57% | 13 of 30 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 10 | 24 of 42 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Pyfer | 9 of 23 | 39% | 7 of 19 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 2 | 6 of 17 | 1 of 4 | 2 of 2 | |
| 2 | Israel Adesanya | 18 of 33 | 54% | 9 of 24 | 6 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 18 of 32 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Pyfer | 27 of 47 | 57% | 26 of 45 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 12 of 25 | 1 of 3 | 14 of 19 |
Angelo picks Israel Adesanya despite acknowledging his age and chin issues. He believes Adesanya's technical striking and range management can keep him safe until Joe Pyfer's cardio fades. He notes that Adesanya looked good in recent losses before getting finished, and that Pyfer's wrestling is not at the level of Dricus du Plessis. However, he says he would not be surprised if Pyfer knocks him out.
Big Brady picks Israel Adesanya to win by decision, but he is hesitant. He acknowledges Adesanya is on a three-fight skid and may be declining, but notes his losses have come against top competition. He thinks Adesanya's elite takedown defense and striking volume will be key, especially with the big cage. He believes if Adesanya's chin holds up, he will outpoint Pyfer over five rounds. He also notes Pyfer's path is via knockout or wrestling, but doubts Pyfer can maintain wrestling for 25 minutes.
Cody acknowledges Adesanya's recent losses and durability concerns but believes Pyfer's cardio issues and reliance on early power will allow Izzy to take over in later rounds. He notes Pyfer's limited wrestling and tendency to gas, making Adesanya the pick despite the risk.
Connor acknowledges that Pyfer is the more rational pick given Adesanya's recent decline and tendency to get hurt, but he stubbornly picks Adesanya because he doesn't think Pyfer is good enough. He notes that Adesanya can fence Pyfer off and make him uncomfortable, but can never fully neutralize the danger. He compares his pick to a classic 'vibes' pick, admitting it's a prove-it question.
Daniel believes Izzy is on the decline, having lost four of his last five and been finished in three. He thinks Pyfer's power and grappling, combined with Izzy's diminished reflexes and chin, will lead to an upset. He picks Pyfer to finish Adesanya.
The host is torn on this fight. Adesanya is a bad stylistic matchup for Pyfer on paper (better striker, good takedown defense), but Adesanya has shown signs of decline (KO loss to Imavov, submission loss to Du Plessis). The host cannot confidently pick either side and passes pre-fight, preferring to live bet the fight.
Lucrative James picks Israel Adesanya to win, believing Adesanya hasn't fallen as far as some think and that his experience and takedown defense will be key. He thinks Joe Pyfer will need a finish to win, but Adesanya's striking and durability make that unlikely. He also notes that Pyfer may fade in later rounds, giving Adesanya an edge.
The host is torn but leans towards Pyfer, citing Adesanya's recent decline in reflexes and durability. He thinks Pyfer's power and wrestling could lead to a finish, possibly by submission similar to Dricus du Plessis. However, he admits low confidence and may not bet it, noting Adesanya could also win by picking Pyfer apart from distance.
Paul agrees with Cody, stating they've never been Pyfer guys. He thinks Adesanya's takedown defense is sufficient and that Pyfer hasn't shown elite wrestling. He's comfortable with the moneyline at -150.
The MMA Guru picks Israel Adesanya, despite acknowledging Joe Pyfer's power and grappling. He believes Adesanya's striking levels are above Pyfer's, citing his ability to avoid Pereira's left hook and his performance against Imavov. He expects Adesanya to use low kicks to neutralize Pyfer's right hand and eventually find a finish. He predicts a third-round TKO.
Zane sees the trajectories of the two careers heading in opposite directions, with Adesanya getting hurt frequently and Pyfer being extremely dangerous. He believes Adesanya cannot neutralize Pyfer's danger the way Abus Magomedov did, because Adesanya won't wrestle. He thinks Pyfer's lack of sophistication may not matter if he catches Adesanya early.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abusupiyan Magomedov | 0 | 11 of 12 | 91% | 18 of 21 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 2:36 |
| Joe Pyfer | 1 | 6 of 10 | 60% | 13 of 18 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 2 | 0 | 2:16 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abusupiyan Magomedov | 0 | 11 of 12 | 91% | 16 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 2:36 |
| Joe Pyfer | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 2 of 5 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:44 | |
| 2 | Abusupiyan Magomedov | 0 | 0 of 0 | --- | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joe Pyfer | 1 | 5 of 7 | 71% | 11 of 13 | 0 of 0 | --- | 2 | 0 | 1:32 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abusupiyan Magomedov | 11 of 12 | 91% | 6 of 7 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 8 |
| Joe Pyfer | 6 of 10 | 60% | 6 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abusupiyan Magomedov | 11 of 12 | 91% | 6 of 7 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 8 |
| Joe Pyfer | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Abusupiyan Magomedov | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Pyfer | 5 of 7 | 71% | 5 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
Angelo picks Joe Pyfer despite his negative attitude, believing Pyfer is better than Abusupiyan Magomedov everywhere: striking, wrestling, and grappling. He notes both fighters fade, but Pyfer hits harder and has better skills. He thinks the odds are a discount because of Pyfer's personality, but he is confident in the pick.
Big Brady is confident in Joe Pyfer, noting his power from the Kelvin Gastelum fight where he dropped Gastelum multiple times. He believes Abusupiyan Magomedov gets hurt easily and has poor cardio. He thinks Pyfer's power will lead to a first-round knockout.
Connor picks Magomedov out of spite for Pyfer, but also because he believes Magomedov is the smarter pick for a decision win. He notes that Magomedov's game is shallow but consistent, and if Pyfer doesn't finish early, Magomedov's ability to frustrate with long-range strikes and takedowns will likely lead to a win. Connor considers it a coin flip but leans toward Magomedov's consistency.
Magomedov is seen as overlooked and a better all-around fighter on paper. If he survives Pyfer's early power, his striking and grappling should lead to a decision win.
The MMA Guru picks Joe Pyfer, despite concerns about his calf kick defense. He notes Abus Magomedov's poor cardio and tendency to get sloppy, while Pyfer's conditioning and power should prevail. He predicts a second-round KO.
Zane picks Pyfer but with hesitation, acknowledging that Pyfer's first-round dynamism could lead to a quick finish. However, he notes that if Pyfer doesn't finish early, he tends to run out of ideas and become discouraged, while Magomedov is more consistent and can frustrate him over three rounds. Zane considers it a coin flip but sticks with Pyfer due to his explosive potential.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 33 of 99 | 33% | 34 of 100 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Joe Pyfer | 2 | 57 of 114 | 50% | 58 of 115 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:31 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 8 of 20 | 40% | 8 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joe Pyfer | 2 | 21 of 39 | 53% | 22 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:16 | |
| 2 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 11 of 50 | 22% | 11 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joe Pyfer | 0 | 17 of 40 | 42% | 17 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 14 of 29 | 48% | 15 of 30 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Joe Pyfer | 0 | 19 of 35 | 54% | 19 of 35 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Gastelum | 33 of 99 | 33% | 13 of 69 | 11 of 17 | 9 of 13 | 32 of 98 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Pyfer | 57 of 114 | 50% | 44 of 99 | 12 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 51 of 104 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 7 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelvin Gastelum | 8 of 20 | 40% | 3 of 14 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 8 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Pyfer | 21 of 39 | 53% | 16 of 33 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 31 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 7 | |
| 2 | Kelvin Gastelum | 11 of 50 | 22% | 2 of 34 | 6 of 10 | 3 of 6 | 11 of 50 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Pyfer | 17 of 40 | 42% | 12 of 35 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Kelvin Gastelum | 14 of 29 | 48% | 8 of 21 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 13 of 28 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Pyfer | 19 of 35 | 54% | 16 of 31 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 33 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Joe Pyfer because Kelvin Gastelum is unreliable with poor work ethic and weight issues. He notes Kelvin has a granite chin and power, but Joe is a powerful striker with slick BJJ. He warns Joe not to get frustrated if the knockout doesn't come quickly. He thinks the 4-to-1 odds are fair but not a cakewalk.
Big Brady likes Joe Pyfer more now that the fight is at sea level instead of Mexico City. He believes Pyfer can win by any method: knockout, submission, or decision. He notes Pyfer's size, power, and black belt in jiu-jitsu, and that Gastelum has been submitted before. He thinks a decision is most likely due to Gastelum's durability, but sees Pyfer as the better fighter overall.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Pyfer. He emphasizes that Gastelum's best wins are against smaller or older opponents, and Pyfer's size and power pose a serious threat. Connor notes that Gastelum's defensive flaws and reliance on his chin make him vulnerable, especially at middleweight where he is not as big.
Gastelum can deal with Pyfer's power and then get to his own striking game, blitzing the pocket and landing big shots, possibly mixing in takedowns. His durability, cardio, and strength of schedule will allow him to get the victory over the younger Pyfer.
The MMA Guru picks Joe Pyfer by submission in the first round. He notes Pyfer's muscle advantage and underrated grappling, citing his training with Sean Brady and his submission wins. He believes Pyfer will land big shots early, then take Gastelum down and submit him with an arm triangle. He mentions Gastelum's granite chin but thinks Pyfer can finish him.
Zane picks Joe Pyfer, noting that Gastelum is inconsistent and relies on his chin, which may be fading. He points out that Pyfer is bigger, hits harder, and has a cleaner striking game. Zane references the Hermanson fight where Pyfer won the first two rounds before fading, and believes in a three-round fight Pyfer's early power will carry him.
James picks Kelvin Gastelum as a significant underdog, arguing that Joe Pyfer has not proven himself against top competition and that his wins are over faded or lower-level fighters. He notes Gastelum has fought much better opposition, has better cardio, and has been training at elevation in Mexico for a month, including in the mountains. James believes Pyfer's gas tank is suspect and that Gastelum can survive early danger and win in later rounds. He sees value at plus 260 odds.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Pyfer | 1 | 8 of 10 | 80% | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Marc-André Barriault | 0 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Pyfer | 1 | 8 of 10 | 80% | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Marc-André Barriault | 0 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Pyfer | 8 of 10 | 80% | 4 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Marc-André Barriault | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Pyfer | 8 of 10 | 80% | 4 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Marc-André Barriault | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Cody picks Pyfer but is hesitant due to his cardio issues. He notes that Pyfer has heavy hands and usually finishes fights early, but if Barriault survives the first round, Pyfer may fade. Cody believes Pyfer will learn from his loss to Jack Hermansson and pace himself better, but acknowledges that Barriault's pressure and cardio could cause problems. He expects Pyfer to win a decision or get an early knockout.
Daniel thinks Pyfer has more power and is more physically imposing than Barriault. He notes that Barriault struggles against higher competition and lacks athleticism. He believes Pyfer learned from his loss to Hermansson and will come back better. He expects a three-round scrap where Pyfer's firepower makes the difference, whether by decision or knockout.
The host does not discuss this fight at all in the transcript. The entire podcast is focused on the Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler fight, which is not on the provided fight card. Therefore, no pick is made for this fight.
The host picks Pyfer by knockout but is hesitant, noting that Barriault's cardio and volume could cause problems if Pyfer doesn't finish early. He says the longer the fight goes, the more it favors Barriault. He suggests the knockout prop at +200 is a better way to play Pyfer, and also mentions Barriault's decision prop and round 3 prop as potential plays.
Paul leans toward Barriault as a live underdog, noting that Pyfer has cardio issues and that Barriault has a high-volume pressure style. He points out that Barriault has gone the distance with tough opponents and that Pyfer tends to slow down after the first round. Paul suggests betting Barriault live after the first round if he survives, as his odds will improve significantly.
The Guru picks Joe Pyfer over Marc-André Barriault. He notes that Barriault has no power and is a grindy fighter who gets into brawls. He believes Pyfer's technical striking and takedown entries will be key. He predicts Pyfer will finish Barriault by TKO in the first round, as Barriault is hittable and has been KO'd before.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Hermansson | 0 | 121 of 235 | 51% | 188 of 327 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:08 |
| Joe Pyfer | 0 | 92 of 250 | 36% | 95 of 254 | 0 of 6 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:50 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack Hermansson | 0 | 16 of 38 | 42% | 16 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joe Pyfer | 0 | 24 of 58 | 41% | 24 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Jack Hermansson | 0 | 19 of 38 | 50% | 19 of 38 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
| Joe Pyfer | 0 | 22 of 60 | 36% | 22 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Jack Hermansson | 0 | 37 of 69 | 53% | 43 of 77 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joe Pyfer | 0 | 20 of 65 | 30% | 20 of 65 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 4 | Jack Hermansson | 0 | 33 of 57 | 57% | 58 of 84 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joe Pyfer | 0 | 22 of 46 | 47% | 23 of 48 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:50 | |
| 5 | Jack Hermansson | 0 | 16 of 33 | 48% | 52 of 90 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:01 |
| Joe Pyfer | 0 | 4 of 21 | 19% | 6 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Hermansson | 121 of 235 | 51% | 74 of 174 | 15 of 23 | 32 of 38 | 111 of 219 | 5 of 6 | 5 of 10 |
| Joe Pyfer | 92 of 250 | 36% | 56 of 196 | 25 of 34 | 11 of 20 | 92 of 250 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack Hermansson | 16 of 38 | 42% | 3 of 21 | 8 of 9 | 5 of 8 | 16 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Pyfer | 24 of 58 | 41% | 11 of 41 | 9 of 10 | 4 of 7 | 24 of 58 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jack Hermansson | 19 of 38 | 50% | 11 of 28 | 1 of 3 | 7 of 7 | 19 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Pyfer | 22 of 60 | 36% | 11 of 45 | 9 of 10 | 2 of 5 | 22 of 60 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jack Hermansson | 37 of 69 | 53% | 25 of 54 | 4 of 7 | 8 of 8 | 33 of 64 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Pyfer | 20 of 65 | 30% | 12 of 54 | 4 of 7 | 4 of 4 | 20 of 65 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Jack Hermansson | 33 of 57 | 57% | 21 of 41 | 2 of 3 | 10 of 13 | 32 of 56 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Pyfer | 22 of 46 | 47% | 19 of 39 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 3 | 22 of 46 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Jack Hermansson | 16 of 33 | 48% | 14 of 30 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 10 |
| Joe Pyfer | 4 of 21 | 19% | 3 of 17 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo acknowledges Jack Hermansson's grappling credentials but notes his low takedown accuracy (29%). Joe Pyfer has incredible power, good wrestling, and has trained with high-level grapplers, including a win over Gerald Meerschaert. Angelo believes Pyfer is the real deal and that this is a perfect stepping stone fight. He suggests betting or parlaying Pyfer.
Big Brady picks Joe Pyfer to win by first-round knockout. He notes that Pyfer has dynamite in his hands and hits like a truck, while Hermansson has been knocked out before and struggles to get fights to the mat. He thinks the small cage favors Pyfer's pressure, and he expects Pyfer to knock Hermansson out early. He acknowledges Hermansson's cardio and grappling but believes Pyfer's power is the difference.
Cody sees value in Hermansson as a plus money underdog. He questions Pyfer's cardio and five-round experience, noting Pyfer has never fought three rounds and relies on early finishes against lower-level competition. Hermansson has proven volume and cardio over five rounds, with wins over Chris Curtis and competitive fights with Strickland and Vettori. Cody believes Pyfer's -260 price is too high given the unknowns, making Hermansson a clear dogger pass pick.
Hermansson is a tough veteran with a grappling-heavy approach and good durability. He should be able to weather Pyfer's early power and then take over with his grinding style, potentially winning by decision or late stoppage. Pyfer's cardio is untested against a durable opponent. However, Hermansson is coming off a knee injury, and Pyfer has youth and power. Low confidence pick.
Paul agrees with Cody, calling Hermansson a clear dogger pass. He notes Pyfer's lack of five-round experience and that Hermansson has multiple tools and paths to victory. Paul points out that if the fight goes deep, Hermansson's cardio and volume will be decisive. He also mentions that Pyfer could win by early knockout, but the value is on Hermansson at plus money.
The MMA Guru picks Joe Pyfer with high confidence, citing Pyfer's knockout power and grappling ability. He notes Pyfer's impressive KO of Gerald Meerschaert and his performance against Abdul Razak Alhassan, where Alhassan seemed scared. He believes Pyfer can put away Hermansson, who he criticizes for losing to Roman Dolidze. He predicts a first-round KO.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Pyfer | 0 | 26 of 62 | 41% | 26 of 63 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 2 | 0 | 1:07 |
| Abdul Razak Alhassan | 0 | 11 of 28 | 39% | 11 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:08 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Pyfer | 0 | 20 of 46 | 43% | 20 of 47 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 | 0 | 0:32 |
| Abdul Razak Alhassan | 0 | 7 of 19 | 36% | 7 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:08 | |
| 2 | Joe Pyfer | 0 | 6 of 16 | 37% | 6 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 0:35 |
| Abdul Razak Alhassan | 0 | 4 of 9 | 44% | 4 of 9 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Pyfer | 26 of 62 | 41% | 15 of 47 | 9 of 12 | 2 of 3 | 24 of 60 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Abdul Razak Alhassan | 11 of 28 | 39% | 4 of 15 | 2 of 3 | 5 of 10 | 11 of 27 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Pyfer | 20 of 46 | 43% | 12 of 34 | 6 of 9 | 2 of 3 | 19 of 45 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Abdul Razak Alhassan | 7 of 19 | 36% | 3 of 11 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 5 | 7 of 18 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Joe Pyfer | 6 of 16 | 37% | 3 of 13 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Abdul Razak Alhassan | 4 of 9 | 44% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 | 4 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Joe Pyfer with high confidence, citing his powerful striking, pressure, and composure. He notes that Abdul Razak Alhassan is a powerful striker but headhunts and abandons his high-level Judo. Pyfer may also wrestle offensively. The only concern is Pyfer's lack of experience in longer fights, but Angelo trusts his hands and pressure.
Big Brady picks Joe Pyfer, noting that Pyfer has more ways to win, especially if he uses his grappling. He highlights Abdul Razak Alhassan's non-existent takedown defense and that Pyfer is a black belt in BJJ. He warns that if Pyfer stands and bangs, he risks Alhassan's power, but believes Pyfer will take the fight to the ground and secure a second-round submission.
Cody picks Joe Pyfer, highlighting his size, power, and well-rounded game. He notes that Alhassan is undersized at middleweight, has poor cardio, and relies on a puncher's chance. Pyfer's wrestling and durability give him multiple paths to victory, and Cody expects him to win, likely by knockout.
Daniel Levi leans Joe Pyfer but calls it a dog-or-pass situation at -450. He notes that Abdul Razak Alhassan has 12 first-round KOs but fades past round one, while Pyfer is the bigger natural middleweight. However, he is not fully sold on Pyfer's competition level and acknowledges that either fighter could get knocked out. He advises against putting Pyfer in parlays at this price.
Lucrative James picks Pyfer to win by finish, likely a TKO via ground and pound. He thinks Pyfer will use his underrated grappling, setting up takedowns with his jab. He notes Pyfer trains with high-level grapplers and has competed in grappling. He sees value in Pyfer by submission at +700 but leans TKO. He believes the line is wide and Alhassan is live but not betting him.
Pyfer has a reach and height advantage, and his power should be able to keep Alhassan at distance. Alhassan is dangerous but has durability issues and is 38. Pyfer should be able to counter Alhassan's overhand rights and get a knockout. However, the -450 line is too steep; I prefer the fight doesn't go to distance prop. Pyfer by finish is likely.
Paul agrees with Pyfer, noting his prospect status and Alhassan's cardio issues. He mentions that Alhassan is undersized and has struggled at middleweight. Paul considers a submission prop at +600 as a speculative play, but his main pick is Pyfer on the moneyline.
The MMA Guru picks Joe Pyfer over Abdul Razak Alhassan, predicting a first-round TKO. He notes both are first-round finishers, but Pyfer is more consistent and has grappling skills, having outgrappled Eric Anders. He cites Pyfer's reach advantage (75 inches) and size, and believes Pyfer's intimidation factor will be greater. He also mentions Alhassan couldn't KO Buckley, implying Pyfer's power is superior.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Pyfer | 0 | 10 of 21 | 47% | 10 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 14 of 24 | 58% | 14 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:16 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Pyfer | 0 | 10 of 21 | 47% | 10 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 14 of 24 | 58% | 14 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:16 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Pyfer | 10 of 21 | 47% | 1 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 7 | 10 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 14 of 24 | 58% | 6 of 16 | 8 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 13 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Pyfer | 10 of 21 | 47% | 1 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 7 | 10 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 14 of 24 | 58% | 6 of 16 | 8 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 13 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pyfer (-190), Meerschaert (+160)
Round 1
Middleweights with high finish rates collide in this next encounter, as durable veteran Meerschaert (35-15, 10-7 UFC) eclipses 50 pro fights when he faces young upstart Pyfer (10-2, 1-0 UFC). While the judges and scorekeeper may not be needed for this one, referee Marc Goddard almost certainly will be required. The action fighters do not bump fists before engaging, as Pyfer wants to fight. Meerschaert stays on the outside with a slapping low kick, and he hand-fights as the two are in alternating stances. Meerschaert kicks the body and nearly stumbles after his kick is blocked. Pyfer wings a head kick that buzzes past the hairline, as the crowd oohs. Meerschaert has a head kick guarded, and he chops at the lead leg. Pyfer reaches him with a single right hand, and Meerschaert backs him up with a few lumbering punches. Meerschaert uses another sweeping calf kick to decent effect, and he fakes a right hook to draw a reaction. Pyfer aims a right hand that stuns Meerschaert, and he does not follow it up as “GM3” blinks it out. Pyfer grabs one of his foe’s hand to open up a punch to the body, and Meerschaert catches him with a body kick.
Pyfer drills Meerschaert with a ferocious left hook and a follow-up right hand, and Meerschaert is in trouble as he falls to the mat. Meerschaert shells up, and Pyfer looks to Goddard to see if he should keep striking. He drops down a few punches, and Meerschaert appears to be done as he just lays on his back taking punches. "GM3" turns to his knees, but is otherwise taking punishment. Goddard allows Meerschaert every possible bit of time to recover, but the goose of the Kill Cliff FC trainee is cooked as he rolls back to his side. “Bodybagz” zips up his win with a couple standing-to-ground left hands, and Goddard has seen enough and waves the fight off.
This is a big win for Pyfer, who never allows Meerschaert’s grappling to come into play as he secures the first-round knockout victory.
The Official Result
Joseph Pyfer def. Gerald Meerschaert R1 3:15 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Joe Pyfer but is hesitant to bet because Pyfer is green and Gerald Meerschaert has defied odds before. He notes that Pyfer has good wrestling and enough Jiu-Jitsu to avoid submissions, and is the better striker. However, he is cautious because Meerschaert's chin has held up recently, and he doesn't want to risk a similar outcome to the Bruno Silva fight.
Big Brady picks Joe Pyfer to win by knockout, citing Pyfer's power and patience, and Meerschaert's questionable chin and striking defense. He notes that Meerschaert has been knocked out by lesser punchers. He predicts a second-round KO, but acknowledges Meerschaert's history of pulling off upsets as a dog.
Cody also picks Pyfer. He thinks Pyfer will be too much early, with better striking and wrestling. He notes Meerschaert often comes back after losing the first round, but Pyfer's cardio should prevent that. Cody suggests live betting Meerschaert after round 1 if Pyfer doesn't finish, as Meerschaert's value increases. He acknowledges Meerschaert's submission threat but believes Pyfer can avoid it.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Meerschaert. He emphasizes that Meerschaert has beaten better competition and that Pyfer's wins are not as impressive. Connor also notes that Meerschaert's experience and ability to handle adversity give him the edge.
Jacob is confident in Joe Pyfer, noting that he went into the breakdown looking for reasons to pick Meerschaert but came out with Pyfer as one of his more confident picks. He highlights that Pyfer throws straight, fast shots down the middle, which is exactly how Khamzat Chimaev knocked out Meerschaert. He believes Pyfer can knock him out, but warns that Pyfer can get over-aggressive and headhunt, which could allow Meerschaert to time a takedown.
Meerschaert is a veteran submission specialist with 9 UFC submissions, often winning as an underdog. He uses body kicks to set up takedowns and has crushing top pressure. Pyfer has hype but was submitted by a striker early in his career and hasn't faced a grappler of Meerschaert's level. I expect Pyfer to come out fast, but Meerschaert will weather the storm and find a submission in round 2 or 3.
Paul picks Pyfer, citing his youth, athleticism, and power. He notes Pyfer has a wrestling background and should be able to take Meerschaert down and avoid submissions. Paul believes Pyfer's power could knock Meerschaert out early, as Meerschaert has been knocked out before. He acknowledges Meerschaert's experience and submission threat but thinks Pyfer's cardio and strength will carry him.
The MMA Guru picks Joe Pyfer to win by 30-27 decision. He expects Pyfer to have a power advantage on the feet, causing Meerschaert to shoot predictable takedowns that Pyfer will stuff. He sees Pyfer landing better shots, sprawling on takedowns, and taking back position to control rounds. He does not predict a first-round KO despite Pyfer's danger, instead expecting a dominant decision.
Zane picks Meerschaert because of his veteran savvy, calmness, and ability to survive and submit opponents. He notes that Meerschaert has broadened his game and has a tremendous front headlock. Zane also points out that Pyfer's best win is against a weak opponent and that he was submitted by better fighters.
Gerald Meerschaert - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Malkoun | 0 | 36 of 82 | 43% | 54 of 103 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:17 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 32 of 76 | 42% | 53 of 100 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 3 | 2 | 4:23 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacob Malkoun | 0 | 6 of 12 | 50% | 11 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 4 of 5 | 80% | 15 of 18 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 1 | 3:56 | |
| 2 | Jacob Malkoun | 0 | 18 of 42 | 42% | 30 of 57 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:23 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 16 of 32 | 50% | 18 of 35 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Jacob Malkoun | 0 | 12 of 28 | 42% | 13 of 29 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:41 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 12 of 39 | 30% | 20 of 47 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 2 | 1 | 0:27 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Malkoun | 36 of 82 | 43% | 30 of 74 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 36 of 81 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 32 of 76 | 42% | 23 of 66 | 6 of 7 | 3 of 3 | 31 of 74 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacob Malkoun | 6 of 12 | 50% | 5 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 4 of 5 | 80% | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Jacob Malkoun | 18 of 42 | 42% | 16 of 40 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 18 of 42 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 16 of 32 | 50% | 11 of 26 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 31 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jacob Malkoun | 12 of 28 | 42% | 9 of 23 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 12 of 39 | 30% | 9 of 36 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Malkoun (9-3; 5-3 UFC) enters the cage as a massive favorite against the reeling and overweight Meerschaert (37-21; 12-13 UFC), with Mike Beltran drwaing his first ref assignment of the evening. Malkoun is orthodox, Meerschaert southpaw, and it’s Malkoun connecting first with a solid right hand that backs the American off. Malkoun is the much faster man on the feet in the early going. Malkoun, bizarrely, changes levels for a takedown attempt against the fence and Meerschaert counters with his trademark guillotine. Malkoun is in real danger for a moment, but manages to extricate his neck. Meerschaert is in top position, in Malkoun’s half guard, looking perhaps to try for another guillotine. Half the round is down, and Meerschaert is still on top, in control. Malkoun manages to stick him back into full guard, but Meerschaert passes to half guard again near the base of the fence. Beltran is talking to them, presumably telling them to keep working, but it’s far from a static position, as they are moving and exchanging short shots. Meerschaert postures up and drops an elbow to the face. Meerschaert wraps up a guillotine from top position but can’t make a serious attempt out of it before the horn. 10-9 Meerschaert.
Round 2
They go back to work on the feet and once again, Malkoun’s edge in speed and accuracy is stark. Malkoun bounces into range against the taller man, pops him with a two or three-punch combo, then exits untouched, several times in a row. Meerschaert appears to be looking for the right moment to shoot for a takedown, but through 90 seconds he has not made a serious attempt. Malkoun backs him up to the fence and belts him with a right to the body. Meerschaert lands a glancing head kick, and Malkoun tags him with two punches. They collide in the pocket and Meeerschaert pulls guard. He controls Malkoun’s posture with a shoulder lock, but Malkoun pulls his right arm out of danger, sets up in Meerschaert’s half guard and throws a flurry of ground strikes. With under a minute to go, Malkoun throws a final series of punches and stands up out of his foe’s guard. Beltran motions Meerschaert to stand, and Malkoun quickly tags him with another series of punches. The round ends. 10-9 Malkoun.
Round 3
It’s anyone’s fight—on our scorecard, at least—as these two go back to work for Round 3. Malkoun stalks forward, sticking out his left jab, backing Meerschaert off. Malkoun is getting much the better of the orthodox vs. southpaw hand fight. A minute in, neither man has really committed to a power strike on the feet, but Malkoun has been the more active, more accurate man. Malkoun steps into the pocket and lands a clean three-piece combination that makes Meerschaert blink and back off. Malkoun hits him with a lead left. He is landing nearly at will, but not forcing the issue at all despite his clear superiority on the feet. Malkoun steps into the pocket and Meerschaert falls to guard in the ensuing collision. Malkoun follows him down, settles into his guard, but lets him back up a moment later. They return to the center of the cage and exchange strikes. Meerschaert is the aggressor, stalking forward and throwing single strikes. They collide and Meerschaert throws on a guillotine choke, shoving Malkoun to the canvas and trying for the last-second finish. It’s pretty obvious he won’t get it, but the round ends with the American on top and in control. The horn sounds on a strange, frankly lousy fight. 10-9 Malkoun (29-28 Malkoun).
The Official Result
Jacob Malkoun def. Gerald Meerschaert via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo is extremely confident in Jacob Malkoun, calling Gerald Meerschaert washed and stating he has no chance. He criticizes Meerschaert's poor takedown defense and chin, and believes Malkoun's wrestling will dominate. He even threatens to ban anyone who picks Meerschaert by submission.
Cody picks Malkoun by TKO, noting Meerschaert's recent knockout losses and Malkoun's improved striking. He believes Malkoun will finish him early, possibly in the first round.
Connor agrees with Zane, calling Malkoun a smart technician who uses his jab and single-leg effectively. He notes that Meerschaert is a slow, aging fighter who relied on opponents being bad, and now faces a composed fighter who won't make those mistakes. He sees it as a clear win for Malkoun.
Daniel Vreeland picks Jacob Malkoun to knock out Gerald Meerschaert in the first round. He believes Malkoun's high pace and power will overwhelm Meerschaert, who he thinks is past his prime and likely to cover up when hit.
Malkoun is a massive favorite with an implied probability of 92%, but the odds offer no value. He is a solid MMA grappler with better wrestling, striking, cardio, and home advantage. Meerschaert is old, missed weight, and only has a Hail Mary submission path. The over 1.5 rounds at 1.64 is interesting because Malkoun is a decision eater and Meerschaert is tough, but not super confident due to Meerschaert's decline.
Lucrative James picks Jacob Malkoun to win via TKO. He believes Malkoun is a much better fighter and that Meerschaert is washed up. He notes Malkoun's wrestling and improved striking should be enough to finish Meerschaert, though he is not super confident on the method.
The host expects Malkoun to run through Meerschaert, citing Malkoun's superior BJJ, youth, and striking. He thinks Malkoun will get a TKO or submission inside the distance, as Meerschaert is on a four-fight losing streak and his durability is fading. The host does not like betting minus 1000 but expects a finish.
Paul picks Malkoun, citing his improved boxing and wrestling. He believes Malkoun will knock out Meerschaert, who has been knocked out repeatedly in the first round.
The MMA Guru picks Jacob Malkoun, noting he is a -1100 favorite but thinks the odds are too high. He praises Malkoun's skills and recent performances, while criticizing Gerald Meerschaert's recent losses and age. He acknowledges Meerschaert's submission threat but believes Malkoun is too good.
Zane picks Malkoun confidently, stating that Meerschaert is done—slow, old, and has been finished in three of his last four fights. He notes that Malkoun is a smart, strategic fighter with a good jab and single-leg takedown, which will be too much for Meerschaert's limited skills. He calls it a gentle send-off for Meerschaert.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Daukaus | 1 | 8 of 11 | 72% | 8 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:17 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyle Daukaus | 1 | 8 of 11 | 72% | 8 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:17 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Daukaus | 8 of 11 | 72% | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyle Daukaus | 8 of 11 | 72% | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Daukaus (-375), Meerschaert (+295)
Round 1
Herb Dean is the referee. Daukaus immediately tags Meerschaert with a straight left. Daukaus wades in with a straight left hand that rocks Meerschaert, who is already in retreat mode. Meerschaert falls to the floor after absorbing another shot. Daukaus follows him down and tees off with hammerfists before locking in a brabo choke.
Daukaus powers Meerschaert to his back and applies the squeeze, and it’s only a matter of moments before the veteran middleweight is forced to tap out.
Daukaus now has back-to-back first round finishes since returning to the UFC.
The Official Result
Kyle Daukaus def. Gerald Meerschaert via Submission (Brabo Choke) R1 0:50
Angelo picks Kyle Daukaus, noting that Gerald Meerschaert has poor takedown accuracy and hasn't taken anyone down in three fights. Daukaus is a good grappler with length and solid takedown defense. Angelo is confident but questions the -325 odds, suggesting Daukaus' last win was against a distracted opponent.
Big Brady picks Kyle Daukaus, noting his improved striking and power since being cut from the UFC. He criticizes Gerald Meerschaert's chin as 'dust' and his recent poor performances, including gassing out badly. Brady believes Daukaus is the better grappler and striker at this point and predicts a first-round knockout, referencing Daukaus's own claim that he will knock out Meerschaert.
Cody agrees with Paul, noting that Meerschaert is on a losing streak and has been knocked out multiple times. He points out that Daukaus is bigger and has better striking. Cody thinks Daukaus will finish the fight inside the distance, possibly by TKO in the first round. He is confident in the pick.
Connor also picks Daukaus, agreeing with Zane. He notes that Meerschaert has lost a step and that Daukaus showed aggression and certainty in his last fight. However, he warns that Daukaus might get overly ambitious and get submitted, but overall trusts Daukaus to win.
Daniel believes Daukaus is on a resurgence with newfound confidence and power, as shown in his knockout of Michelle Pereira. He expects Daukaus to feast on an aging Meerschaert, who has been finished in recent fights. He predicts a first-round knockout for Daukaus.
Lucrative James picks Kyle Daukaus to win, stating that Gerald Meerschaert is washed and Daukaus has better striking and grappling. He notes Daukaus' resurgence after a first-round KO in his return fight, and believes his takedown defense and top control will neutralize Meerschaert's submission threats. He predicts a finish or clear decision for Daukaus.
Daukaus is a better and younger version of Meerschaert. He can win whichever way he chooses, whether by knockout or submission. He wins inside the distance.
Paul picks Daukaus, citing his size, striking, and submission defense. He notes that Meerschaert has poor durability and has been knocked out frequently. Paul believes Daukaus will win by TKO, possibly in the first round. He also mentions that Daukaus has looked good on the regional scene and is a big middleweight.
The Guru picks Kyle Daukaus to win by TKO in round two. He notes that Gerald Meerschaert is on a three-fight losing streak and aging, while Daukaus is coming into his prime with improved striking and grappling. Daukaus' clinch work and power should be too much for Meerschaert, who may no longer have the craftiness to pull off a submission.
Zane picks Daukaus confidently, noting that Meerschaert has lost a step and never had much physical edge. He thinks Daukaus has surprisingly fast hands and is too willing to grapple, but that he can be fast and slick. He believes Daukaus might be starting a veteran run and that Meerschaert is past his prime.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 3 of 16 | 18% | 3 of 16 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 1 | 23 of 51 | 45% | 23 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:22 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 3 of 16 | 18% | 3 of 16 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 1 | 23 of 51 | 45% | 23 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:22 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald Meerschaert | 3 of 16 | 18% | 2 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 23 of 51 | 45% | 18 of 46 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 20 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerald Meerschaert | 3 of 16 | 18% | 2 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 23 of 51 | 45% | 18 of 46 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 20 |
Angelo notes Oleksiejczuk is a pure striker with power and fast hands, while Meerschaert is a grappler with questionable chin and takedown accuracy. He thinks it's easier for Oleksiejczuk to stay on the feet and land strikes than for Meerschaert to get the fight to the ground. He leans Oleksiejczuk but says he should not be a -225 favorite in such a tricky matchup.
Big Brady picks Michał Oleksiejczuk to win by first-round knockout. He notes Oleksiejczuk is a phenomenal striker with bodywork, volume, and power, while Meerschaert is at a massive striking disadvantage. However, he acknowledges the grappling danger: Meerschaert has 30 submission wins and Oleksiejczuk has been submitted six times. He thinks Oleksiejczuk can keep the fight standing and knock out Meerschaert, especially if he has improved his takedown defense. He mentions Oleksiejczuk's ability to get back up when taken down.
The host believes Oleksiejczuk's improvements from training with the fighting nerds will carry over, though it may result in a more measured approach. He expects Oleksiejczuk to wear Meerschaert down with striking and secure a finish in the third round.
The Guru picks Michał Oleksiejczuk to win by TKO in the first or second round. He believes Oleksiejczuk has improved since joining the Fighting Nerds and has nasty ground and pound and power. The Guru notes that Meerschaert is on borrowed time and doesn't move his head well, making him vulnerable. He also mentions that Oleksiejczuk has good grappling defense and reversals, so he won't be a fish out of water on the ground.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Tavares | 0 | 47 of 109 | 43% | 56 of 118 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 38 of 83 | 45% | 51 of 97 | 0 of 8 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 4:44 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brad Tavares | 0 | 13 of 36 | 36% | 14 of 37 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 8 of 24 | 33% | 8 of 24 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:26 | |
| 2 | Brad Tavares | 0 | 26 of 51 | 50% | 26 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 23 of 44 | 52% | 23 of 45 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:47 | |
| 3 | Brad Tavares | 0 | 8 of 22 | 36% | 16 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 7 of 15 | 46% | 20 of 28 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:31 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Tavares | 47 of 109 | 43% | 29 of 85 | 12 of 18 | 6 of 6 | 45 of 105 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 38 of 83 | 45% | 27 of 66 | 7 of 10 | 4 of 7 | 36 of 79 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brad Tavares | 13 of 36 | 36% | 10 of 30 | 2 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 8 of 24 | 33% | 5 of 19 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 23 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Brad Tavares | 26 of 51 | 50% | 15 of 38 | 7 of 9 | 4 of 4 | 24 of 48 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 23 of 44 | 52% | 18 of 35 | 4 of 6 | 1 of 3 | 21 of 42 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Brad Tavares | 8 of 22 | 36% | 4 of 17 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 21 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 7 of 15 | 46% | 4 of 12 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 14 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Tavares (-258), Meerschaert (+210)
Round 1
As the main card carries on, the few hundred fans in the building will be treated to a fascinating clash of styles pitting the UFC middleweight decision leader against the division’s all-time top finisher. Tavares (20-10, 15-10 UFC) prefers to stand, while Meerschaert (37-18, 12-10 UFC) is hunting for his 30th submission—and Tavares has never before been submitted. Something might have to give before all is said and done here. Referee Mike Beltran draws the assignment, ready to step in at a moment’s notice. The grizzled veterans show respect for one another with a glove touch, and Tavares pops out his jab. Meerschaert surges forward, pulling back before letting go with anything. Tavares prepares for a counter when Meerschaert comes at him, dinging the grappler with a hard left hand. Meerschaert zooms forward, looking for a double and ending up pushing the Hawaiian against the fencing. When Tavares breaks free, Meerschaert goes after him and plants a left hand on the chin. He ducks down to try this strike again, and this time it lands cleaner. Tavares backs him off with a crisp boxing combo, and Meerschaert shoots in for a double but is totally shut down. Tavares misses a right hand by a matter of inches, but the body kick that follows does land. Tavares puts his fist on Meerschaert’s chin, and he dips in with a shovel uppercut that brushes past the jaw. The two crash together, and Tavares rings his foe’s bell with an elbow, giving chase with a left hand and a body kick. Meerschaert fakes a level change to buzz by his foe, and he pitches out a couple calf kicks. Tavares advances, is intercepted and still snaps out a jab. Meerschaert kicks him in the lead leg again, and he leans back and gets drilled with a long two-punch string right down the middle. Tavares clips Meerschaert a second time with a right hand, and “GM3” catches a kick and zips a kick back at his adversary’s head. Tavares comes up short with a spinning back fist, and the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Round 2
Fists are bumped to start off the second round, and Tavares gets right behind a double jab. Tavares plunks Meerschaert with a right hand and has a high kick buzz past his hair. Tavares plants a heavy leg kick that strips the legs out beneath the grappler, and Beltran allows him to stand up as Tavares does not want to hit the ground with him. Meerschaert blitzes forward, landing at the end of a pair of combinations and backing off from front kicks. He then charges again, scoring twice with a solid lefts before mashing Tavares against the cage. “GM3” slashes with an elbow on the break, and he sneaks in a left hand as Tavares clutches his jaw awkwardly. Tavares overswings, and Meerschaert ducks down to level change. Tavares stonewalls him, boots him in the face and then slams a leg kick home. Two heavy punches from the Hawaiian get through, and Meerschaert answers him with two doubled lefts. He tries this double-left attack two more times, and Tavares sees it coming and circles off. Meerschaert connects with a powerful uppercut to push Tavares back, and he hammers Tavares with a body kick after they split up. Meerschaert sells out for a single that comes up way short of succeeding, and Tavares backs him away with a front kick and a blistering uppercut. Meerschaert shells up to defend a body kick, and the front kick that follows gets through. Tavares skirts away from looping punches, and they clash legs when kicking at the same moment. Tavares slips in a one-two, gets his head snapped back and still lands. Meerschaert throws back harder, and he gets Tavares’ attention just a moment. Body kicks fly from both men, and Tavares winds up with a right hand that staggers the grappler. “GM3” shakes out the cobwebs and scores as left hand down the middle. The bell rings.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Round 3
Fists are bumped, and fighters engage right after it with clubbing punches. Meerschaert darts in for a takedown, and he runs directly into a body kick. Tavares hops back and in with a jab, and he runs forward and is tripped. Meerschaert lets him back up so he can target the body a few times, and Tavares kicks him in the guts and has to defend a takedown. Meerschaert nearly gets him down, Tavares pulls a finger off the wall and bounces off well enough to stay upright. Meerschaert clings to his side, fishing his legs in for a trip. Beltran asks for more activity as “GM3” hangs on from partial back control standing, and he kicks out Tavares’ other foot for a second of instability. He kicks the same foot again, and Tavares has to rejigger himself to not get tripped up. Meerschaert keeps attacking the feet when not trying to use his body weight to wrench Tavares down, and the Hawaiian is able to defend well enough as precious seconds tick off the clock. Beltran needs something more from the fighters, and Meerschaert exerts himself but is not able to get it down. Tavares puts his back to the fence, and his takedown defense is enough to stifle the Kill Cliff FC fighter’s every effort. Beltran breaks them apart with 70 seconds left, and Meerschaert practically runs towards his opponent flailing his fists, Tavares is more composed with straight strikes, and he has his kick parried and he rolls with a punch. Meerschaert lunges at him with two left hands to then go after a single, and Tavares breaks free with 15 seconds to go. Meerschaert runs forward, lets fly a body kick, and he slings three unsuccessful head kicks to conclude the lackluster pairing.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert (29-28 Tavares)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert (29-28 Tavares)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert (29-28 Tavares)
The Official Result
Brad Tavares def. Gerald Meerschaert via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo notes Brad Tavares has fought everyone and has solid striking and 80% takedown defense, while Gerald Meerschaert is a good grappler but sucks on the feet and gets hit a lot. He warns that taking Meerschaert down is dangerous, but Tavares has the fight IQ to avoid that. Angelo picks Tavares but thinks the odds are high for a guy with only one win in three years, and suggests a 'win inside the distance' prop might be a sharp play.
Big Brady picks the underdog Gerald Meerschaert, citing Brad Tavares's decline after the Dricus du Plessis fight and poor recent performances. He believes Meerschaert has underrated striking and a huge grappling advantage, and expects him to submit Tavares in the second round.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Meerschaert. He emphasizes that Tavares is a neutralizer who no longer believes in his own power and doesn't follow up on damage. Connor notes that Meerschaert has become craftier on the feet and that Tavares's defensive shell will be his downfall. He calls the matchup terrible matchmaking but sees Meerschaert as the logical winner.
Tavares is clearly diminishing at 1-4 in his last five fights. Meerschaert can push a pace and get the grappling going in the first and second rounds, leading to a classic Meerschaert submission in round two or three.
The Guru picks Brad Tavares, emphasizing his takedown defense and ability to keep the fight standing. He thinks Meerschaert's body kicks and takedown attempts will be slow and predictable, and Tavares will be snappier on the feet. He expects a decision win for Tavares, though notes Meerschaert comes alive in the third round.
Zane picks Meerschaert, arguing that Brad Tavares is 'cooked' and no longer dangerous. He notes Tavares's lack of motivation, tendency to shell up when hurt, and inability to finish fights. Zane points out that Meerschaert has improved his boxing and reach usage, and has a win over Bruno Silva who knocked out Tavares. He believes Meerschaert's willingness to win and Tavares's decline make Meerschaert the clear pick.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reinier de Ridder | 0 | 30 of 54 | 55% | 44 of 72 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 2:53 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 1 | 38 of 66 | 57% | 82 of 114 | 5 of 13 | 38% | 1 | 0 | 3:29 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reinier de Ridder | 0 | 21 of 34 | 61% | 21 of 34 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:10 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 1 | 28 of 53 | 52% | 33 of 59 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:44 | |
| 2 | Reinier de Ridder | 0 | 9 of 17 | 52% | 22 of 34 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:25 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 5 of 6 | 83% | 35 of 39 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:49 | |
| 3 | Reinier de Ridder | 0 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 5 of 7 | 71% | 14 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 0:56 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reinier de Ridder | 30 of 54 | 55% | 27 of 49 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 22 of 44 | 2 of 3 | 6 of 7 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 38 of 66 | 57% | 19 of 42 | 10 of 13 | 9 of 11 | 34 of 61 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reinier de Ridder | 21 of 34 | 61% | 19 of 30 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 19 of 32 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 28 of 53 | 52% | 14 of 34 | 5 of 8 | 9 of 11 | 26 of 51 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Reinier de Ridder | 9 of 17 | 52% | 8 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 7 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 5 of 6 | 83% | 2 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Reinier de Ridder | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 5 of 7 | 71% | 3 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: De Ridder (-290), Meerschaert (+235)
Round 1
In their combined 54 pro wins, these two co-headlining middleweights have earned 50 finishes. Referee Mike Beltran better buckle up as soon as these two get started, as Meerschaert (37-17, 12-9 UFC) is just as dangerous in the first minute as he is in the last. Ridder (17-2, 0-0 UFC) will be coming over from One Championship, where level of competition and some other policies differ significantly, and it remains to be seen if there are any immediate growing pains. If this hits the ground, hang on tight. The 185ers touch ‘em up, and de Ridder starts out with multiple front kicks. Meerschaert chases after him with a one-two, and de Ridder’s front kick gets plenty of work early. De Ridder awkwardly lunges his way in, and he gets popped with a right hand before backing off. “RDR” chips at the front leg twice before Meerschaert gets his hands on him, with Meerschaert connecting with a series of punches that redden the newcomer’s face up. De Ridder uses a low kick to set up a takedown attempt, scooping up the middleweight submission leader in the UFC and putting him down to the ground. De Ridder passes briefly, but Meerschaert flips him over and fights off a triangle choke setup to allow them both to stand. Meerschaert stabs out a jab, and he rips a left to the ribcage. Meerschaert scores two left hands, and his subsequent right hand draws a funny reaction out of the UFC debutant. Meerschaert checks a body kick and swarms forward with several powerful punches. De Ridder wobbles back, gets clipped with a left hand and ducks down to prevent any further harm. “GM3” shuts down a takedown with ease and slides to the side, and he eats a jab on the way out. A de Ridder low kick gets checked, and he sets up a few punches with a jab and takes a few on the chin before backing off. Meerschaert connects with a solid left hook and jumps guard for a guillotine choke, but de Ridder shucks him out of the way. Meerschaert kicks him off, stands up and deals with a jump knee. Meerschaert stuffs a takedown and sets up a power guillotine, only to use the grip to push off. De Ridder swings wide, has a low kick checked and shoots for a failed entry. Meerschaert drills him with an elbow when fighting of the takedown, and de Ridder pecks at him with distant jabs. Meerschaert gives him one jab back to think about, and de Ridder sits down on a right hand that gets Meerschaert’s attention. Meerschaert closes in and dings him with an uppercut, and he gets sent flying with an elbow and a looping left hand. Before “RDR” can put a stamp on things, the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 de Ridder
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 de Ridder
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 de Ridder
Round 2
To start off the second round, de Ridder wants to put hands on what he thinks to be a wounded fighter. Meerschaert appears to have his sea legs out him, and he swings back and tags the newcomer a few times. “RDR” walks him down, wraps up a body lock and hits an easy trip. Meerschaert turns to his side as de Ridder hopes to establish to half guard. De Ridder sneaks in an elbow before Meerschaert hand-fights with two-on-one wrist control on the Dutchman’s left arm, and de Ridder uses the opportunity to nearly slide out of danger. De Ridder sets up a choke while on his seat, and Meerschaert pushes him off and unloads with a lengthy punch combination. De Ridder still works his way upright, threaten with a throw and falls over. Meerschaert jumps on top, moving right into half guard and opening up with strikes. A brief arm-triangle choke from the American is flirted with, but Meerschaert bails on it to nail the debuting fighter with an elbow. De Ridder re-fastens his guard before tugging his toes on the fencing, and he pushes Meerschaert to his feet. “GM3” lowers himself back down while smacking de Ridder in the chops with punches. De Ridder fires back, and he lifts a leg up in hopes of hooking up a triangle. Meerschaert is wise to it and shucks it off, and he takes a few punches from “RDR” off his back. De Ridder fishes for an arm, and he uses it to work his way back to his feet. De Ridder turns the tables with a trip, placing the underdog on his back before having to fight out of an armbar. Meerschaert goes for one more submission as the 10-second clapper sounds, and he flips “RDR” over before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Round 3
The middleweights touch ‘em up to get the last round going, and Meerschaert is the one pushing the pace in pursuit of a clinch and possible takedown. De Ridder fights his way off the wall, only for Meerschaert to trip him down to his face. De Ridder stands back up, and Meerschaert shoots for a single that is defended. De Ridder drives a knee to the torso while Meerschaert stands up, and he trips “GM3” up and tosses him to the mat like a side of beef. Meerschaert squirms the right direction and puts de Ridder on the mat, evading a front choke while scurrying as fast as he can to put de Ridder on his back.
De Ridder repositions to full mount, and he locks down an arm-triangle choke in a hurry. Meerschaert defends by answering the telephone, and he quickly finds the submission is a bit too tight for his liking. Rather than get put to sleep, a disappointed Meerschaert taps out twice.
Both exhausted fighters fall to their backs, sucking wind now that the fight is over. De Ridder becomes the first fighter since Jack Hermansson in 2018 to force “GM3” to surrender, introducing himself to his new company in a big way.
The Official Result
Reinier de Ridder def. Gerald Meerschaert R3 1:44 via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
Angelo picks Reinier de Ridder as the next evolution of Gerald Meerschaert: high-level BJJ with much better takedowns. He notes de Ridder uses his length well and can hang with anyone on the ground. He expects a high-level grappling fight and thinks the UFC matched him up this way on purpose. He will probably bet on de Ridder.
Big Brady goes back and forth but ultimately picks Meerschaert, citing de Ridder's poor cardio and striking. He expects de Ridder to come out strong but fade, allowing Meerschaert to take over in the later rounds. He predicts a third-round submission for Meerschaert.
Cody highlights de Ridder's elite grappling credentials, including a draw with Andre Galvao and a competitive loss to Tye Ruotolo. He believes de Ridder's judo and BJJ black belt will neutralize Meerschaert's submission game, and his striking is good enough to win on the feet. Cody expects de Ridder to pass this barometer test and win, possibly by knockout or decision.
Connor also picks Meerschaert, agreeing that de Ridder's striking is terrible and that Meerschaert can piece him up. He notes the size difference but thinks Meerschaert's boxing will prevail. He also comments that the odds are too wide in favor of de Ridder.
Daniel Vreeland picks Gerald Meerschaert as a dog, citing concerns about Reinier de Ridder's stamina and recent performances, including a knockout loss and a quit job. He notes Meerschaert's durability, awkward striking, and record for most submissions in UFC middleweight history. Vreeland expects a late finish if de Ridder doesn't get an early submission.
Lucrative James picks Reinier de Ridder to win, but is hesitant due to the wide odds. He notes that de Ridder is a one-dimensional grappler with poor striking, while Meerschaert is a submission specialist who could catch him. He believes de Ridder's wrestling and size advantage should allow him to dictate where the fight goes, but acknowledges that Meerschaert is dangerous off his back and could pull off a submission. He also mentions considering a bet on Meerschaert due to the value.
De Ridder's ability to take the back will be key. As his grappling wears on Meerschaert, he should open up a submission or ground-and-pound opportunity and get a finish in his UFC debut.
Paul is not excited about laying -278 on a UFC debutant, but acknowledges de Ridder's experience in big fights and his grappling advantage. He notes that Meerschaert struggles when opponents don't gas and have comparable grappling. Paul thinks de Ridder can win on points or by taking Meerschaert down and controlling him.
The Guru picks Reinier de Ridder, citing his jiu-jitsu advantage and ability to avoid being fraud-checked in grappling. He worries about de Ridder's stand-up but believes his clinch knees and body work will be key. He predicts de Ridder finishes Meerschaert with knees to the body in the second or third round, surviving any guillotine danger.
Zane picks Meerschaert, noting that de Ridder cannot strike at all and has no functional pressure. He thinks Meerschaert can outbox him easily. He also mentions that de Ridder's wins are over regional competition and that Meerschaert is a tough out. He suggests a prop on Meerschaert by decision.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 48 of 113 | 42% | 48 of 113 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:21 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 0 | 21 of 44 | 47% | 31 of 54 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 1 | 0 | 0:21 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 22 of 50 | 44% | 22 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 0 | 14 of 33 | 42% | 16 of 35 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 26 of 63 | 41% | 26 of 63 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:18 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 0 | 7 of 11 | 63% | 15 of 19 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 1 | 0 | 0:21 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald Meerschaert | 48 of 113 | 42% | 31 of 94 | 16 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 26 of 60 | 5 of 9 | 17 of 44 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 21 of 44 | 47% | 11 of 33 | 6 of 7 | 4 of 4 | 20 of 42 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerald Meerschaert | 22 of 50 | 44% | 12 of 38 | 9 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 21 of 46 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 14 of 33 | 42% | 5 of 24 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 4 | 14 of 33 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Gerald Meerschaert | 26 of 63 | 41% | 19 of 56 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 14 | 4 of 5 | 17 of 44 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 7 of 11 | 63% | 6 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Shahbazyan (-310), Meerschaert (+250)
Round 1
If Reese vs. Medina was the appetizer for middleweight finishers—although it did not go down the way matchmakers likely intended—this pairing between aggressive youngster Shahbazyan (13-4, 6-4 UFC) and crafty opportunist Meerschaert (36-17, 11-9 UFC) is the main course. Together, they sport three wins by decision across their combined 49 victories. Referee Mark Smith needs to be on his A-game for this one, although he is well-prepared for the bout that commences with a touch of gloves. Meerschaert introduces himself with a well-placed body kick, and Shahbazyan frowns and responds with a right straight to the ribs. Meerschaert scores another thudding body kick, and Shahbazyan measures his left hand and walks “GM3” down. A third body kick from Meerschaert connects cleanly, and he scores a one-two and is countered. Shahbazyan absorbs an inside leg kick and a jab, and he fights off a takedown but gets uppercutted twice in the exchange. Meerschaert lands a right hand and eats a right to the body and a left to the head. Shahbazyan rushes in, and he slashes out with an elbow to break. “GM3” sneaks in a left hand, and Shahbazyan boots him in the ribcage. Meerschaert does the same with his kick, and Shahbazyan targets his midsection in response. Doubling up on a jab, Shahbazyan punches his way in and follows a right hand with a head kick. Meerschaert blocks the second kick and loops a left hand in, and they get up close and personal to trade fierce punches. “GM3” further attacks the body, and a left hand that follows reddens up the nose of “The Golden Boy.” Shahbazyan splits the guard with a right cross, and he has a leg kick checked. Meerschaert kicks the inner thigh, and it slides up and slaps into the cup. Shahbazyan grimaces in pain, and Smith calls time. Shahbazyan clutches his groin and paces around to get his wind back, and he takes 75 seconds before resuming. Smith tells Meerschaert to “stay away from that area,” and he nods. On the restart, Meerschaert loops a right around the jab, and he parries a high body kick. Shahbazyan sticks him with a left and comes up short on a big left hand, and they clash with kicks at the same time. Shahbazyan walks through a punch to get Meerschaert’s attention with a right hook, and a body kick from “The Golden Boy” ends the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan
Round 2
The middleweight clap hands to start the round, and Meerschaert is on the attack immediately. Jabbing his way into a takedown effort, he fails on it and pulls back to try a second time. Meerschaert kicks the body of his foe, and he trips to his back and climbs back up. Shahbazyan defends from another takedown, and he clips “GM3” with a short right hook to the body and a pounding knee that puts Meerschaert down. Shahbazyan opens up with ground-and-pound, spamming punches and hammerfists as Smith tells him to fight back. Meerschaert stays busy enough to survive, slowing things down by tying up Shahbazyan’s hand. Shahbazyan tries his hardest to finish the fight, but Meerschaert is savvy enough to block most of them. When Shahbazyan takes mount, “GM3” times an explosion to buck Shahbazyan off of him. Meerschaert threatens with a guillotine off his back, and he reassumes the guard and looks to tie Shahbazyan up with a kimura. Shahbazyan stands up and tells Meerschaert to stand back up. Meerschaert immediately shoots for a takedown and is met with a knee, and he looks for a standing guillotine when Shahbazyan bullies him to the fence. Meerschaert does not have the sub, so he lets it go and blasts Shahbazyan with three ferocious punches. Shahbazyan gives him back two knees to the body and a right hand to back him away. Shahbazyan times a jump knee as Meerschaert tackles him to the mat, and with one minute to go, Meerschaert assumes to position.
In the blink of an eye, Meerschaert latches onto the arm-triangle choke, and he lowers himself down when sensing the resistance of “The Golden Boy” is not what it was before. “GM3” completes the submission without even stepping over to the side, instead hanging on in half guard, and that is all he needs. Shahbazyan surrenders to a sub for the first time in his career
, and Meerschaert has pulled off the upset and the comeback. In doing so, Meerschaert becomes the UFC’s all-time finish leader at middleweight, breaking his tie with Anderson Silva for sole possession of the record.
The Official Result
Gerald Meerschaert def. Edmen Shahbazyan R2 4:12 via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
Angelo picks Gerald Meerschaert as an underdog, acknowledging his chinny reputation but noting his improved takedowns in his last fight. He thinks Meerschaert's grappling is the best it's looked and that if he can take Shahbazyan down, he'll be in trouble. He mentions that Shahbazyan is a 3-to-1 favorite which seems crazy, and that Apex cards are ripe for upsets. He also suggests a plus 3.5 bet on Meerschaert.
Cody picks Meerschaert because he thinks Shahbazyan is a front-runner who fades if he doesn't finish early. He notes Meerschaert has good BJJ, cardio, and a comeback ability. He believes if Shahbazyan doesn't knock him out in the first round, Meerschaert will take over and submit him. He also mentions that Shahbazyan has been stopped by wrestlers and grapplers before.
Daniel Vreeland picks Gerald Meerschaert for the upset, noting Shahbazyan is a front-runner who fades after the first round. He believes if Shahbazyan doesn't get a first-round KO, Meerschaert will take over with submissions or ground-and-pound. He acknowledges the risk of Shahbazyan winning early.
JP picks Shahbazyan by KO, noting his losses were to elite competition and he has looked great lately. He thinks Meerschaert is old, slow, and his standup is not good. Brevin agrees, adding that Meerschaert is reckless and has been taking bad punishment recently, including a one-punch KO loss to Chimaev. Shahbazyan is bigger, younger, and has good wrestling to stuff takedowns.
Paul leans towards Shahbazyan by KO but doesn't like the price. He thinks Shahbazyan has the power to finish Meerschaert early, but notes that Meerschaert is durable and could survive. He prefers to bet live or take a prop on Shahbazyan by KO rather than the moneyline. He also mentions that Meerschaert's chin is suspect.
The MMA Guru picks Edmen Shahbazyan by first-round KO. He believes Shahbazyan is much more talented on the feet and that Meerschaert is getting old. He cites Shahbazyan's wins over Barbarena, AJ Dobson, and Dingi Andula, and notes Meerschaert's recent win over Barbarena was unimpressive. He predicts a first-round finish.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 11 of 17 | 64% | 30 of 36 | 3 of 7 | 42% | 2 | 0 | 5:03 |
| Bryan Barberena | 0 | 12 of 37 | 32% | 25 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 7 of 13 | 53% | 12 of 18 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:15 |
| Bryan Barberena | 0 | 10 of 25 | 40% | 13 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 2 | Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 4 of 4 | 100% | 18 of 18 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 2 | 0 | 2:48 |
| Bryan Barberena | 0 | 2 of 12 | 16% | 12 of 22 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald Meerschaert | 11 of 17 | 64% | 7 of 12 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Bryan Barberena | 12 of 37 | 32% | 9 of 29 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 8 | 10 of 34 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerald Meerschaert | 7 of 13 | 53% | 4 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Bryan Barberena | 10 of 25 | 40% | 7 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 7 | 8 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | |
| 2 | Gerald Meerschaert | 4 of 4 | 100% | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Bryan Barberena | 2 of 12 | 16% | 2 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Meerschaert (-245), Barberena (+200)
Round 1
The prelims kick off with a stylistically opposite middleweight matchup pitting a submission magician against a burly brawler. Meerschaert (35-17, 10-9 UFC) will be the rare betting favorite in a match, because it comes against former welterweight Barberena (18-11, 9-9 UFC). This fight may not need the judges at its conclusion, but referee Herb Dean is on call for what comes next. The grizzled veterans touch gloves, and Meerschaert crowds forward and paws out a low kick. Barberena replies with one as he hops from side to side, not letting himself get cornered or stay too long in one spot. Barberena misses with another leg kick, and he reaches out with a swatting right hook. Meerschaert loads up on a right hand that skims the bears, and he digs a left to the body before backing away to dodge a counter. Barberena chips at the lead leg with a kick, and Meerschaert ducks a punch to tie him up. Barberena frantically escapes the clinch, not allowing the grappler to get hold of him for more than a second or two. Barberena keeps sliding to the side until Meerschaert shoots in on a double, and he takes “Bam Bam” off his feet. Barberena posts off his arm to remain upright, and Meerschaert jumps on top of him to secure the position. Meerschaert clings to the side of his opponent, with one hook in, as Barberena fights to maintain wrist control and keep Meerschaert from establishing a dominant position. Barberena climbs back to his feet, and he threatens with an overhand right but misses the mark. Meerschaert walks straight into a one-two, and Barberena charges into him and bowls him over. Meerschaert absorbs a few low kicks from on his back before popping back up, and he reaches out with a right hand when upright again. Meerschaert slips a few punches and shoot for a double, and he lands in the guard before quickly advancing to half guard. “GM3” slides into side control, and he isolates Barberena’s left arm to pursue a kimura. Meerschaert steps over and wrenches on the kimura behind his foe’s back, but Barberena leans up against the wall to defend it. Meerschaert drops down to snatch up a guillotine choke, but the leverage is not there from his angle to get it set. Meerschaert lets Barberena up and lands a few punches before backing up, and Barberena lumbers towards him throwing inaccurate hands until the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Round 2
Meerschaert accepts a fist bump to get started, but he is on a mission as he crowds Barberena and chases him around the cage. Barberena keeps moving, and he swings a right hand that is ducked by a shooting “GM3.” Barberena defends the single and pushes off with a left hook, and he reaches out with a pair of punches to back Meerschaert off for a moment. Barberena just misses with a windmilling left hand, and Meerschaert shoots for a single that is stuffed. Meerschaert kicks the ribs and parries a one-two, and he sticks out a jab. Meerschaert prods out another jab, and Barberena answers with his own. Meerschaert shoots, turns the corner and succeeds in putting Barberena on his back. Barberena maintains butterfly hooks to defend from anything, until Meerschaert steps over to half guard. Meerschaert grabs hold of an arm-triangle choke and presses down while his body is draped on the alternate side, and Barberena grits his teeth and scoots his way to the fencing. Meerschaert hangs on from the side and hunts for a rear-naked choke, and Barberena hand-fights to stop it. When Barberena attempts to stand back up, Meerschaert gets the hook in on the other side and acts as a mean-spirted backpack. “GM3” locks up a rear-naked choke while standing, but Barberena is tough as a two-dollar steak and fights it out as he drops to his knee.
Meerschaert grips the rear-naked choke grip on the chin, squeezing with all power on the face crank. Meerschaert does not adjust his grip, and Barberena searches for options and suddenly loses consciousness—from a face crank. The forearm never slid under the chin, and yet Barberena is out cold!
When Dean gets between them, the sportsman Meerschaert rushes over the lift Barberena’s legs up to force the blood to flow back to the head, while Dean tends to the groggy, defeated fighter. The victorious Meerschaert now ties Anderson Silva for the most finishes in the UFC’s middleweight division, and when asked what he wants next, he calls for a beer and a nap.
The Official Result
Gerald Meerschaert def. Bryan Barberena R2 4:23 via Technical Submission (Face Crank)
Angelo notes that Meerschaert is a very good grappler always live for a submission, though he has a questionable chin and poor takedown accuracy. Barberena is a fun brawler who doesn't use his wrestling and has been taken down 18 times in his last three fights. Angelo thinks the more likely outcome is Meerschaert gets a takedown and snatches a submission, but warns he cannot be trusted as a 2-to-1 favorite.
Big Brady picks Gerald Meerschaert to win by second-round submission. He notes Barberena's poor takedown defense and submission losses, and expects Meerschaert to get the fight to the mat and submit him. He is wary of Meerschaert's chin but thinks Barberena's recent form is too poor.
Cody picks Gerald Meerschaert, emphasizing the size advantage. He notes Barberena is undersized at middleweight, having ballooned to 240 lbs and struggled to make 170. He points out Barberena was taken down 13 times in his last fight and lacks the power to hurt Meerschaert. He sees Meerschaert's size and grappling as decisive.
Lucrative James picks Gerald Meerschaert to win by submission, likely in round two or three. He believes Barberena is on a downward trajectory and lacks the power to knock out Meerschaert. He notes that Barberena has a significant grappling disadvantage and that Meerschaert is opportunistic with submissions. He mentions that he won't play the moneyline but might bet on a round prop.
The host is surprised Meerschaert is a big favorite, as he believes Barberena has good enough defensive grappling to deal with Meerschaert's less-than-average wrestling. He notes Barberena has shown improvements in getting back to his feet and letting his hands go, and expects Barberena to have the striking advantage, leading to a knockout in the third round as Meerschaert fails on his grappling attempts.
Paul also picks Meerschaert but with hesitation. He acknowledges Barberena's toughness and grit, but notes Meerschaert's inconsistency and tendency to lose rounds before pulling off a finish. He warns that this could be a 'pie in the sky' situation where Meerschaert's flaws are overlooked. Still, he expects Meerschaert to win due to size.
The Guru picks Gerald Meerschaert by submission in round three. He notes Barberena was outgrappled by Makhmud Muradov, whom Meerschaert submitted. He expects Meerschaert to get dominant position and submit the 'melting vanilla ice cream' Barberena. He mentions Meerschaert's typical third-round finishes.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Petroski | 1 | 57 of 132 | 43% | 67 of 143 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 2:06 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 76 of 149 | 51% | 92 of 166 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:54 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Petroski | 0 | 13 of 42 | 30% | 13 of 42 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 11 of 30 | 36% | 11 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Andre Petroski | 1 | 29 of 61 | 47% | 31 of 63 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:36 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 23 of 54 | 42% | 23 of 54 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Andre Petroski | 0 | 15 of 29 | 51% | 23 of 38 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:07 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 42 of 65 | 64% | 58 of 82 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:54 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Petroski | 57 of 132 | 43% | 39 of 114 | 12 of 12 | 6 of 6 | 46 of 117 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 11 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 76 of 149 | 51% | 65 of 135 | 6 of 9 | 5 of 5 | 60 of 131 | 10 of 10 | 6 of 8 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Petroski | 13 of 42 | 30% | 10 of 39 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 39 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 11 of 30 | 36% | 8 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | 11 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Andre Petroski | 29 of 61 | 47% | 20 of 52 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 4 | 21 of 50 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 11 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 23 of 54 | 42% | 18 of 47 | 3 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 22 of 53 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Andre Petroski | 15 of 29 | 51% | 9 of 23 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 28 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 42 of 65 | 64% | 39 of 61 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 27 of 48 | 9 of 9 | 6 of 8 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Petroski (-245), Meerschaert (+200)
Round 1
Grappling fans will likely get their money’s worth with this early preliminary headliner at middleweight. A perfect 4-0 in the Octagon since coming into the league off his unsuccessful jaunt on Season 29 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Petroski (9-1, 4-0 UFC) is a man on a mission with an equal distribution of knockouts and submissions on his ledger. Standing in his way is the ultra-dangerous Meerschaert (35-16, 10-8 UFC), who can snatch up a limb or neck in the blink of an eye. It could be a wild one for as long as it lasts, and referee Herb Dean will be the one keeping tabs on this affair. The crowd cheers louder for Dean than either fighter. There is ample respect, as the two fighters touch ‘em up before handling their business. Petroski moves to the center of the cage, and Meerschaert paws out a few jabs and narrowly avoids a sudden overhand left. Petroski chambers his left hand again, and Meerschaert ducks it and keeps his guard high to block three more strikes. Petroski sits down on a leg kick, and he takes a jab on the nose. Petroski swings for the fences, and Meerschaert responds with a short right hook. Petroski fires off a right hand, and he lumbers forward with two looping strikes. Meerschaert steps in with a sneaky left hand, and he pops Petroski with a second as he keeps moving. Petroski whiffs on a home run punch, and Meerschaert sees that and a second whiz by his face as he prods out with his own jab. Meerschaert’s jab continues to find its home, and he pushes out a one-two when Petroski comes at him, hands down. Petroski unloads with a vicious combination, and Meerschaert dodges most of them but takes one or two flush. “GM3” peppers the lead wheel with a kick, and he stutter-steps forward to draw a reaction out of Petroski. The Pennsylvanian has his right hand ready to fire off in a moment’s notice, and he leaps forward with three strikes that all come up short thanks to Meerschaert leaning and sliding backwards. Meerschaert starts to put his punches together, with a few short combinations that bounce off the guard of his foe. Petroski misses the mark by a mile, and Meerschaert pushes off as Petroski complains about an eye poke. Meerschaert does not acknowledge he committed a foul, and Dean allows him 30 seconds to recover before Petroski says he is good to go. When they resume, Petroski rushes forward but does not swing. Meerschaert gets in a left hand, and he scores a jab to follow. Petroski shoots in for a takedown, and Meerschaert falls to his back and sets up an inverted triangle immediately. Petroski is trapped in this position but does not appear to be overly concerned, and they ride out the round in this position.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Round 2
The two touch gloves to get back to it, and Meerschaert strikes first with a left hand over the top. Petroski connects with a leg kick, and he rushes forward in pursuit of a single-leg takedown. Meerschaert matadors him out of the way and allows Petroski to reset. When Meerschaert advances, Petroski lands a right hand. Meerschaert continues trotting forward, and Petroski throws hard and misses, and he goes after a single to follow it. Meerschaert shuts it down and gets off a shovel uppercut, and Petroski comes up high with a kick. They both trade right hands, and Petroski lands a pull-back two-punch combo. Meerschaert replies with a left hand that surprises Petroski, and he catches a Petroski kick that allows Meerschaert to trip his foe to the floor. Petroski jumps back up, and Meerschaert peppers him with a few jabs. Petroski throws hooks, and Meerschaert dodges and chips at Petroski’s lead leg. Meerschaert jumps forward with a jab, and he walks into a right hand that loops around his guard. Meerschaert backs Petroski off with three punches, and Petroski lets his hands go and belts him with a right hook. Meerschaert sticks his tongue out, and Petroski loads up and lands another. Meerschaert dips down and smacks Petroski with his own left hook, and he chains a head kick into it. Meerschaert flashes his jab and puts an uppercut on the chin, and Petroski disguises a single but falls into a potential guillotine trap. Petroski lets it go, and he gets shoved back and has his lead leg kicked again. Petroski drives a left to the body and goes for a right to the head, and Meerschaert defends against it and lands a short right of his own. Petroski leaps into action with a massive right hand, and it sends Meerschaert crashing to the canvas. When Meerschaert hits his back, he throws up a triangle choke, and he manages to gather his thoughts and threaten with another guillotine before the two stand up. As Meerschaert retreats, he is still a little hurt, and Petroski bears down on him and stops a lazy single from “GM3.” Petroski pushes Meerschaert to the floor and lands a few punches before the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Petroski
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Petroski
Round 3
Meerschaert is amped up and ready to go, and he rushes at his man and gets off a solid left hand down the middle. Meerschaert snatches up a kick that flies at his side and trips Petroski up, and he succeeds in taking Petroski down and climbing into top position. Petroski attacks with a triangle choke off his back, and Meerschaert fights it off and gets pushed back in the process. Meerschaert jumps back down into the guard of his opponent, and he smothers Petroski without doing much offensively. Dean warns Meerschaert that he needs to do more from here, and this spurs Meerschaert into action, who drops down some ground-and-pound. Petroski swings his legs high for an armbar effort, and Meerschaert shucks it off and elbows Petroski on the head hard. A cut opens up on Petroski’s cheek under his left eye, and Petroski muscles his way back to his feet. Meerschaert pressures his foe, who appears slightly fatigued, and he lays into him with a combination. Petroski throws back with a vengeance, with one punch that does not have the pop on it that it once did. Meerschaert connects with a few more strikes until Petroski shoots for a takedown, and Meerschaert drops to his back and hunts for a guillotine choke. Petroski fights out of it and steps over to the side while threatening with his own counter choke in the form of a Von Preux, and Meerschaert sees this and releases his own grip. Petroski sits up on a guillotine choke as he moves to mount, and Meerschaert traps Petroski’s leg to thwart it. Meerschaert explodes up to his seat and back to his feet, and when clinched up, he knees Petroski right in the breadbasket. Meerschaert rails Petroski with a huge left hand, and the two decide to abandon their grappling ways and throw everything they have. The two begin to brawl, and Meerschaert lands the better of the strikes and knocks Petroski back to the wall. Meerschaert unloads with everything he has left, and Petroski barely survives to the bell. As soon as it sounds, he drops to the floor, totally spent. This could be a close one, depending on how the first round is scored. It may come to the surprise of many that it managed to go the distance.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert (29-28 Meerschaert)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert (29-27 Petroski)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert (29-27 Petroski)
The Official Result
Andre Petroski def. Gerald Meerschaert via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Andre Petroski, trusting his wrestling and power, but leaves him out of the safety parlay due to Gerald Meerschaert's submission threat. He notes that Meerschaert has poor takedown defense and a suspect chin, but could pull off a Hail Mary submission. He has Petroski in a parlay with Natália Silva at -133.
Big Brady picks Gerald Meerschaert as a big underdog to win by third-round submission, acknowledging Petroski could knock him out early. He notes Meerschaert has 27 submission wins and is dangerous when opponents tire. Brady worries about Petroski's cardio, as he slows in the second and third rounds, and believes Meerschaert can capitalize on mistakes.
Cody thinks Petroski's wrestling and physical strength will overwhelm Meerschaert, who has a poor chin and is coming off a knockout loss. He expects a finish, but notes Petroski's gas tank could be an issue if the fight goes long.
Daniel Levi picks Andre Petroski, noting that he has been improving and showed better pacing in his last fight. He acknowledges that Meerschaert is live to catch Petroski with a submission, especially since Petroski has been guillotined before. Levi is not comfortable laying the price and prefers props, playing Petroski KO in round 1 and Meerschaert submission in rounds 2-3.
Lucrative James leans towards Gerald Meerschaert as an underdog, noting that Andre Petroski tends to gas out in the second round before recovering in the third, leaving openings for submissions. He acknowledges the risk of Petroski finishing early but sees value in Meerschaert's patented round 2-3 submission. He suggests a live bet after round one.
Petroski is the stronger wrestler with power and cardio improvements. He should take Meerschaert down and control him, likely finishing in the first two rounds. Meerschaert has durability issues and struggles when pressured early. The moneyline is a bit wide, but the fight not going to decision is a solid play.
The MMA Guru picks Andre Petroski to out-grapple and possibly submit Gerald Meerschaert. He notes Meerschaert's recent KO loss and quick turnaround, and believes Petroski's scrambles will neutralize Meerschaert's guillotine attempts. He was impressed by Petroski's performance against Wellington Turman and thinks he can dominate on the ground. He predicts a TKO by ground and pound or decision.
Expert Picks (9)
Angelo picks Joe Pyfer but is hesitant to bet because Pyfer is green and Gerald Meerschaert has defied odds before. He notes that Pyfer has good wrestling and enough Jiu-Jitsu to avoid submissions, and is the better striker. However, he is cautious because Meerschaert's chin has held up recently, and he doesn't want to risk a similar outcome to the Bruno Silva fight.
Big Brady picks Joe Pyfer to win by knockout, citing Pyfer's power and patience, and Meerschaert's questionable chin and striking defense. He notes that Meerschaert has been knocked out by lesser punchers. He predicts a second-round KO, but acknowledges Meerschaert's history of pulling off upsets as a dog.
Cody also picks Pyfer. He thinks Pyfer will be too much early, with better striking and wrestling. He notes Meerschaert often comes back after losing the first round, but Pyfer's cardio should prevent that. Cody suggests live betting Meerschaert after round 1 if Pyfer doesn't finish, as Meerschaert's value increases. He acknowledges Meerschaert's submission threat but believes Pyfer can avoid it.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Meerschaert. He emphasizes that Meerschaert has beaten better competition and that Pyfer's wins are not as impressive. Connor also notes that Meerschaert's experience and ability to handle adversity give him the edge.
Jacob is confident in Joe Pyfer, noting that he went into the breakdown looking for reasons to pick Meerschaert but came out with Pyfer as one of his more confident picks. He highlights that Pyfer throws straight, fast shots down the middle, which is exactly how Khamzat Chimaev knocked out Meerschaert. He believes Pyfer can knock him out, but warns that Pyfer can get over-aggressive and headhunt, which could allow Meerschaert to time a takedown.
Meerschaert is a veteran submission specialist with 9 UFC submissions, often winning as an underdog. He uses body kicks to set up takedowns and has crushing top pressure. Pyfer has hype but was submitted by a striker early in his career and hasn't faced a grappler of Meerschaert's level. I expect Pyfer to come out fast, but Meerschaert will weather the storm and find a submission in round 2 or 3.
Paul picks Pyfer, citing his youth, athleticism, and power. He notes Pyfer has a wrestling background and should be able to take Meerschaert down and avoid submissions. Paul believes Pyfer's power could knock Meerschaert out early, as Meerschaert has been knocked out before. He acknowledges Meerschaert's experience and submission threat but thinks Pyfer's cardio and strength will carry him.
The MMA Guru picks Joe Pyfer to win by 30-27 decision. He expects Pyfer to have a power advantage on the feet, causing Meerschaert to shoot predictable takedowns that Pyfer will stuff. He sees Pyfer landing better shots, sprawling on takedowns, and taking back position to control rounds. He does not predict a first-round KO despite Pyfer's danger, instead expecting a dominant decision.
Zane picks Meerschaert because of his veteran savvy, calmness, and ability to survive and submit opponents. He notes that Meerschaert has broadened his game and has a tremendous front headlock. Zane also points out that Pyfer's best win is against a weak opponent and that he was submitted by better fighters.
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