Jacob Malkoun vs Gerald Meerschaert

Jacob Malkoun vs. Gerald Meerschaert (190: Missed Weight)

Round 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 Bodetti Expert Lock picked Apr 26, 2026 (6 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

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.

No prop bets mentioned; odds noted as -800.

"Jacob Malcoun is a very expensive minus 800. I think that's a discount off what it should actually be."

We Want Picks

Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2026 (2 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

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.

TKO prop

"Malcoun wins. Malcoun wins easy, but you got to chase a prop. And I do take the knockout."

Bookie Beatdown

Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked May 1, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

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.

"Yeah, I you know, even when Mirchard was improving he was relying on the opponents being bad and clueless to get wins."

MMA Vivisection

Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Apr 29, 2026 (3 days before fight)

Jacob 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.

"I got Jacob Malcun to come out here and knock out GM3 in the first round."

Half the Battle

Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Confident picked May 1, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

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.

Over 1.5 rounds at 1.64 (small bet)

"I don't really see any path to victory for Meerschaert other than hitting a crazy Hail Mary submission... I do quite like the over 1.5 rounds on this."

Diary of a Pro Gambler

Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Apr 26, 2026 (6 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

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.

"I got Jacob Malcoun comfortably winning this fight... I'll take him to win, I guess, TKO."

Lucrative MMA

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 28, 2026 (4 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

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.

Inside the distance

"I think Malcoun gets the win. I don't like betting minus 1000s anyway. Um, uh, obviously the inside the distance line will probably be very chalky as well, but I think we'll see Malcoun get a a TKO, maybe a …"

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2026 (2 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

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.

KO prop

"I'm just probably going the Malccom by KO prop."

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 1, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

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.

odds comment: -1100 favorite, should be -400

"Jacob Malkoun is a minus 1,100 favorite and I don't think he should be that big of a favorite first of all, but Malkoun's pretty good."

THE MMA GURU

Zane Simon Expert Confident picked May 1, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

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.

"So Malcolm is just going to chew him up. Yeah, it is. It is truly sad because Gerald Marshard is one of the only guys in the entire UFC who I think seems like a actually chill dude."

MMA Vivisection

WIN vs Torrez Finney

Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 325 · Feb 01, 2026

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Jacob Malkoun	1	117 of 181	64%	151 of 219	2 of 8	25%	3	0	5:16
Torrez Finney	0	27 of 77	35%	42 of 95	0 of 1	0%	0	0	0:20

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Ctrl
1	Jacob Malkoun	0	61 of 98	62%	72 of 111	0 of 2	0%	1	0:20
1	Torrez Finney	0	7 of 26	26%	12 of 33	0 of 1	0%	0	0:20
2	Jacob Malkoun	1	37 of 53	69%	58 of 76	0 of 1	0%	2	2:29
2	Torrez Finney	0	8 of 21	38%	11 of 24	0 of 0	---	0	0:00
3	Jacob Malkoun	0	19 of 30	63%	21 of 32	2 of 5	40%	0	2:27
3	Torrez Finney	0	12 of 30	40%	19 of 38	0 of 0	---	0	0:00

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Jacob Malkoun	117 of 181	64%	115 of 179	2 of 2	0 of 0	97 of 153	4 of 5	16 of 23
Torrez Finney	27 of 77	35%	25 of 73	2 of 4	0 of 0	25 of 74	2 of 3	0 of 0

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Jacob Malkoun	61 of 98	62%	59 of 96	2 of 2	0 of 0	55 of 88	1 of 1	5 of 9
1	Torrez Finney	7 of 26	26%	6 of 24	1 of 2	0 of 0	7 of 25	0 of 1	0 of 0
2	Jacob Malkoun	37 of 53	69%	37 of 53	0 of 0	0 of 0	24 of 36	2 of 3	11 of 14
2	Torrez Finney	8 of 21	38%	8 of 20	0 of 1	0 of 0	7 of 20	1 of 1	0 of 0
3	Jacob Malkoun	19 of 30	63%	19 of 30	0 of 0	0 of 0	18 of 29	1 of 1	0 of 0
3	Torrez Finney	12 of 30	40%	11 of 29	1 of 1	0 of 0	11 of 29	1 of 1	0 of 0

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Torrez Finney vs. Jacob Malkoun
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Malkoun (-166), Finney (+140)

Round 1
Aussies continue to populate the Octagon, as Malkoun (8-3, 4-3 UFC) reps Straya against one of the only Americans on the billing in undefeated fireplug Finney (11-0, 1-0 UFC). Two of the shorter 185ers will toe the line in this one, both a far cry from the 6-foot-5 Nursultan Ruziboev who towers over much of their division. While they might need a stepstool to reach the top shelf where Mama hides the cookies, they will handle their business under the oversight of referee Steve Perceval. Fists are not bumped first.
Finney charges forward, and stops before engaging. He pushes out jabs that are far out of range, while Malkoun is much closer even if he too is not yet hitting his target. After 30-ish seconds of shadowboxing, Malkoun reaches Finney with a few jabs, and the audience is not pleased. Malkoun brings life to the bored stands by shooting for a single, and Finney spins around and gets out of it. Malkoun probes out his jab, and he leans back as two looping hooks brush his beard. Malkoun drives home a one-two on the jaw, and Finney does not like it and needs a moment to collect himself. Finney fakes changing levels, and Malkoun ignores it and puts three punches on his jaw. Malkoun beats his man to the punch with another brief exchange, leading Finney to bullrush him and swing for the fences. Malkoun wears them well, and he stuffs a takedown and hurts him with a one-two.
Finney backs off, and Malkoun dings him with another offering of fists. Finney loads up on counters, even catching Malkoun with a left hook, but Malkoun hurts him repeatedly. Finney’s takedown is stuffed without issue, and Malkoun makes him pay with a combination of punches. Finney overswings his counters, loading up and firing out of range, all while Malkoun is teeing off on him. Malkoun busts open Finney’s nose as he proceeds to beat on him like a rented mule, forcing Finney to shoot again feebly so he can punch him square in the face. Finney is out of sorts and not sure what to do, backing off as Malkoun is able to hit him without fear of reprisal. Malkoun slugs Finney in the face, grabbing the hulking American and tossing him to the floor like a side of beef. Rather than go after ground strikes, Malkoun pursues a modified arm-in guillotine choke, and the beefy Finney turns him around and secures top position. Malkoun lands more off his back than Finney does when standing, and when time expires, Finney clutches his knee and struggles to get back to his corner.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun

Round 2
Finney informs Perceval that he can continue after going down strangely on his leg during the takedown in the previous round, and the fighters resume. Malkoun pushes off when Finney tries to engage him, and Finney hops back with his right knee clearly compromised. Malkoun stays back, allowing Finney to swing wildly and inaccurately so he can measure the American and land any time he chooses. Finney stands still, and he jumps forward to attack and stings Malkoun with a huge hook. Malkoun blinks it out and pushes Finney away, where he gets to his preferred range to jab “The Punisher” up. Finney overswings on a hook, and Malkoun puts a jab in his face repeatedly. Malkoun’s strikes slash open Finney’s left eyebrow, and he gladly stays on the outside jabbing away. Finney closes the distance briefly, only to get driven back after landing with a few strikes. Malkoun splits the guard with a one-two, setting Finney down like sack of bricks.
Malkoun jumps down in hopes of finishing the job, but the defense of Finney holds up to allow him to drag himself to the wall and protect his mug. Malkoun punches the side and under the armpit when seeing an opening, punishing “The Punisher” with ground strikes while imposing his weight on the shorter man. Malkoun has his arms clasped around the waist and attempts to pull Finney down from behind, looping a hook in to further control his man. Malkoun attempts a vice-like face crank squeeze, crushing his grip on the jaw and putting everything into it. Finney, thanks in part to a bloody nose, slides his head out of the submission and fights back to his feet without getting struck again before the one-sided round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun

Round 3
Replays between rounds show how Finney aggravated his hamstring or knee mid-fight, but Finney toughs it out and starts the last round aggressively after a stern talking-to from his team. Finney swings with everything he has, and Malkoun keeps out of range from the worst of the blows. Malkoun shoots for his own single, and he ties the American up and bullies him to the fencing, where he proceeds to aggressively go after another single. Finney defends both efforts but gets cracked by two hooks, and Malkoun is able to feast on his defense by scoring at will. Malkoun’s jab consistently gives the walking tree stump of a fighter issues, and he ducks a Finney swing to bully him to the wall.
Malkoun grinds out the heavily muscled man and imposes his full weight upon him, leaning and kneeing Finney as his own countrymen and women boo his strategy. Finney wriggles out, and he gets popped with a left hook. Finney throws back hard, forcing Malkoun to rub his nose uncomfortably. The jab from Malkoun is booping Finney on the schnoz time and again, disrupting wide swings and keeping him safe. Finney lets his hands go and manages to connect on Malkoun, who answers with a rushing single that drags Finney to a knee. The moment Finney walks himself up with the fence behind him, Malkoun effortlessly hurls him back down. “Mamba” holds on top until the round ends, speaking to commentator Daniel Cormier outside the cage by remarking the Finney is better than he thought. The one-sided bout ends, and Finney can barely stand, needing to get carried back to his stool after three less-than-stellar rounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (30-27 Malkoun)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (30-27 Malkoun)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (30-27 Malkoun)

The Official Result
Jacob Malkoun def. Torrez Finney via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)

Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jan 25, 2026 (7 days before fight)

Torrez Finney

Angelo picks Torrez Finney, stating he is the better wrestler and will take Jacob Malkoun down repeatedly. He notes Malkoun's takedown defense is not great and he hasn't fought in a long time. He bet on Finney at plus 140 and expects the line to tighten. He acknowledges Finney's boring style but thinks he will step it up.

bet on him at plus 140

"Torres Finn is the pick. I bet on him at plus 140. I have a feeling it's gonna tighten."

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 25, 2026 (7 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Big Brady picks Jacob Malkoun, citing his superior grappling skills. He notes Malkoun took down Brendan Allen seven times and controlled him for over seven minutes. He thinks Finney is physically strong but less skilled, and Malkoun will win a decision.

Fight goes to decision

"I'm taking Malcoun to win this fight. I think it's going to be a decision."

DFS by the Numbers

Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jan 28, 2026 (4 days before fight)

Torrez Finney

Cody is leaning toward Finney, citing his friendship with the fighter and the fact that Malkoun is coming off a long layoff and back surgery. He notes that both are decision machines and expects a grappling-heavy fight. He prefers the over 2.5 rounds as a bet but picks Finney for the show.

Over 2.5 rounds

"I guess I will take Finny. Purpose of the show. I guess I have to make a pick. I don't want to bet one way or the other. I want to bet the over two and a half and hopefully …"

Bookie Beatdown

Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2026 (2 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Malkoun. He notes that Malkoun is a good technician with a nuanced wrestling game, and Finney is a one-dimensional blanket. Connor is curious to see Malkoun's wrestling against superior physicality but believes Malkoun's skill will prevail.

Same odds commentary.

"Yeah, I'm Malcoon he's a bit like the Iron Turtle to me. Yeah, totally where it's Jenson Park where it's just like I just want to see these guys I want to see them fight good fighters."

MMA Vivisection

Daniel Vreeland Expert Hesitant picked Jan 15, 2026 (17 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Daniel Vreeland picks Malkoun but is hesitant due to his long layoff and injury concerns. He believes Malkoun's cardio and pace will overwhelm Finney in the later rounds, but worries that Finney's strength and wrestling could win the first two rounds. Vreeland thinks Malkoun can take over in the second and third rounds if he is the same fighter as before.

"I'm going to go with Jacob Malcoun to hand Taurus Finny his first career defeat."

Half the Battle

Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Jan 25, 2026 (7 days before fight)

Torrez Finney

James picks Finney as an underdog, citing his physical strength, durability, and wrestling. He believes Malkoun's long layoff and back injury are concerns, and that Finney can match him in grappling and striking. James sees Finney's power and explosiveness as key, and expects a close fight or a Finney KO.

"I'm going to go ahead and pick Torres Finney, the plus 145 underdog here."

Lucrative MMA

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Jan 27, 2026 (5 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Malkoun has a smothering grappling style with good cardio, but he has durability concerns and a long layoff due to a bulging disc. Finney is a strong grappler but lacks damage output, as shown in his debut where he landed only four significant strikes. Malkoun should outscramble Finney and land more effective damage over 15 minutes. However, Finney's power and the layoff make this a tough fight to predict. The host leans Malkoun by decision.

Malkoun by decision

"I will go with the Aussie here. I think Malcoun ends up getting those positions, landing more effective damage over 15 minutes, and I think that leads to him grinding this fight out and winning it on the scorecards."

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jan 28, 2026 (4 days before fight)

Torrez Finney

Paul also picks Finney, noting that he hits harder and has better striking. He questions Malkoun's stand-up and believes Finney's wrestling and durability will be key. He also likes the over 2.5 rounds.

Over 2.5 rounds

"Torres hits a lot harder with his hands as well. If wrestling gets completely negated here, Torres is the guy throwing the heavy artillery."

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 31, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

The Guru picks Jacob Malkoun, calling him underrated and highlighting his grappling skills, nearly beating Brendan Allen. He notes Malkoun's fundamental striking and shorter stature as advantages against Finney's style. He predicts a third-round submission as Finney slows down.

submission in the third round

"I'm going to go with Jacob Malcoun. I think his grappling is pretty underrated as well."

THE MMA GURU

Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2026 (2 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Zane picks Malkoun because he is a better technician and game planner than Finney. He notes that Finney relies on blanketing top game and has no offensive part to his game, and Malkoun's crafty wrestling and ability to outfox from the bottom should allow him to get on top. Zane is intrigued by the matchup but feels Malkoun deserves better opponents.

Malkoun opened at -250, now -145; Finney opened at +210, now +125.

"I'm gonna pick Malcolm because he is a better technician and a better game planner and Finney is somebody that can be game-planned around."

MMA Vivisection

WIN vs Andre Petroski

TKO (soccer kick to the body) R2 0:39 · UFC on ESPN: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot · Mar 30, 2024

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Jacob Malkoun	0	13 of 42	30%	13 of 43	1 of 2	50%	0	0	0:13
Andre Petroski	0	20 of 40	50%	21 of 41	0 of 3	0%	0	0	0:32

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Jacob Malkoun	10 of 33	30%	10 of 34	1 of 1	100%	0:13
1	Andre Petroski	15 of 32	46%	16 of 33	0 of 2	0%	0:28
2	Jacob Malkoun	3 of 9	33%	3 of 9	0 of 1	0%	0:00
2	Andre Petroski	5 of 8	62%	5 of 8	0 of 1	0%	0:04

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Jacob Malkoun	13 of 42	30%	6 of 34	2 of 2	5 of 6	12 of 41	1 of 1	0 of 0
Andre Petroski	20 of 40	50%	16 of 36	4 of 4	0 of 0	17 of 35	0 of 1	3 of 4

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Jacob Malkoun	10 of 33	30%	4 of 26	2 of 2	4 of 5	9 of 32	1 of 1	0 of 0
1	Andre Petroski	15 of 32	46%	12 of 29	3 of 3	0 of 0	15 of 31	0 of 1	0 of 0
2	Jacob Malkoun	3 of 9	33%	2 of 8	0 of 0	1 of 1	3 of 9	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Andre Petroski	5 of 8	62%	4 of 7	1 of 1	0 of 0	2 of 4	0 of 0	3 of 4

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Jacob Malkoun vs. Andre Petroski
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Malkoun (-205), Petroski (+170)

Round 1
Middleweights Malkoun and Petroski go to work under the watchful eye of referee Gary Copeland. Both men are in orthodox stance and the crowd lets fly with its first “USA” chant of the evening for Philly native Petroski. Petroski switches stances frequently in the early going, frequently ending southpaw, but Malkoun catches him with a big jab mid-switch that has him stumbling away, hurt. Malkoun walks him down but does not overcommit to the chase. Petroski fires a righty jab from southpaw, which Malkoun counters with a hard left. Malkoun appears sharper on the feet in the first half of the first round, but Petroski catches him with a clean left that buckles his legs. Petroski changes levels and tries to take the Australian down, but can’t finish. Malkoun turns the tables and tries for a takedown of his own near the fence, but can’t get Petroski off his feet. Malkoun walks Petroski down, but walks right into a level change. Petroski hoists a single-leg and sweeps the other leg to complete the takedown. Malkoun hops right back up and the horn sounds a few seconds later.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun

Round 2
Malkoun comes forward and tries an immediate takedown, which Petroski snuffs out easily.
Petroski goes for a takedown of his own, then crumples to the ground on his hands and knees, obviously hurt. Malkoun gives him a single massive soccer kick to the ribs and with Petroski offering no resistance, Copeland steps in for the stoppage.
It takes a couple of runs through the replay footage to figure it out, but it appears Petroski’s head might have collided with the point of Malkoun’s hip during the takedown attempt. Whatever the case, it goes down as a win for the “Mamba.”

The Official Result
Jacob Malkoun def. Andre Petroski R2 0:39 via TKO (Soccer Kick to the Body)

Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Mar 24, 2024 (6 days before fight)

Andre Petroski

Angelo slightly leans Andre Petroski, believing he is the better wrestler and more dangerous striker. He notes Petroski has looked poor in his last two fights but thinks he can win here. He warns that if Petroski loses, he should be cut and find a new gym.

"I'm going to slight lean Andre Petroski here if he loses this fight then two things need to happen he needs to be cut and he needs to find a new gym"

We Want Picks

Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 28, 2024 (2 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Cody is high on Malkoun's relentless wrestling and cardio, believing he will drown Petroski with takedowns and ground pressure. He expects a finish via TKO or submission as Petroski gasses, and even makes a shoey bet on Malkoun winning inside the distance.

Malkoun by TKO +425 (shoey bet)

"Malon I'm gonna ride or die with him this weekend I love him"

Bookie Beatdown

Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Mar 27, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Daniel Vreeland picks Jacob Malkoun, citing his pace, durability, and ability to push the fight. He notes Petroski has a history of fading and being broken by pressure (e.g., Brian Battle). He thinks Malkoun's wrestling and cardio will overwhelm Petroski as the fight goes on, leading to a decision or late finish.

"I'll pick malcun"

Half the Battle

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 26, 2024 (4 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Malkoun's relentless pace and pressure will wear down Petroski, who has cardio issues and needs an early finish. Malkoun chains takedowns and stays busy, while Petroski slows in later rounds. Malkoun should dominate the second and third rounds, winning a decision. Petroski's submission threat is real early, but Malkoun's movement and never-settle style should avoid bad positions.

Malkoun by decision

"give me malun and malun by decision"

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 28, 2024 (2 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Paul expects Malkoun to win by decision, citing his wrestling volume and Petroski's tendency to gas. He plans to bet Malkoun by decision at plus money, seeing it as a reliable play.

Malkoun by decision

"death taxes malun by decision my friend"

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 27, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

The host picks Jacob Malkoun to win, citing that both fighters have similar styles but Petroski is more explosive and slows down more. He believes Malkoun's volume and output, both in strikes and takedowns, will make the difference. He predicts a third-round finish or a decision win for Malkoun.

third round finish or decision

"I'm going to go Jacob Malkoun winning this fight by I have third round finish or second and third round wins uh to a decision"

THE MMA GURU

LOSS vs Cody Brundage

DQ (illegal elbow) R1 4:15 · UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Gamrot · Sep 23, 2023

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Cody Brundage	0	28 of 39	71%	44 of 60	1 of 3	33%	0	0	3:39
Jacob Malkoun	0	2 of 4	50%	3 of 5	1 of 1	100%	0	0	0:26

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
1	Cody Brundage	0	28 of 39	71%	44 of 60	1 of 3	33%	0	0	3:39
1	Jacob Malkoun	0	2 of 4	50%	3 of 5	1 of 1	100%	0	0	0:26

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Cody Brundage	28 of 39	71%	28 of 39	0 of 0	0 of 0	0 of 0	0 of 0	28 of 39
Jacob Malkoun	2 of 4	50%	1 of 3	0 of 0	1 of 1	1 of 3	0 of 0	1 of 1

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Cody Brundage	28 of 39	71%	28 of 39	0 of 0	0 of 0	0 of 0	0 of 0	28 of 39
1	Jacob Malkoun	2 of 4	50%	1 of 3	0 of 0	1 of 1	1 of 3	0 of 0	1 of 1

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Cody Brundage vs. Jacob Malkoun
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Malkoun (-485), Brundage (+370)

Round 1
After a round robin of opponent changes, Australia’s Malkoun (7-2, 3-2 UFC) will now settle for taking on late replacement Brundage (8-5, 2-4 UFC), with the latter dropping three straight over the last 10 months. The middleweights will be joined in the cage by referee Mark Smith, who checks them in without them touching gloves. Brundage comes out shot out of a cannon, where he attacks with a head kick before charging towards Malkoun and taking him down. Malkoun powers himself back to his feet, and he gets hold of a single and drags Brundage to his seat. Brundage turns the tables to flip Malkoun over, but the two ultimately scramble well enough to stand. Malkoun doggedly pursues the single, and after two additional tries, Malkoun finally pulls Brundage away from the wall and puts him to his knees. Malkoun slugs his man on the side of the head, and Smith is paying close attention to the proceedings as Brundage is taking fire. Brundage works his way to the fence, where he leans on his side as Malkoun lays into him with strong punches. Brundage looks frustrated, as Malkoun maintains a tough top position where he has his own leg entangled between Brundage’s to keep him grounded. Malkoun continues to beat down on Brundage, and Brundage leans over and puts his hands on the floor in some kind of desperate effort to escape. When Brundage gets a modicum of success, pulling the hook off of his side, Malkoun quickly replaces it and keeps beating on the American. Malkoun uses his left hand to bludgeon Brundage, who is taking punishment and not offering any offense of his own. Malkoun uses a palm-to-palm rear-naked choke to hunt for the choke with full power, and Brundage shakes his head out of it.
When Brundage is leaned over, Malkoun blasts Brundage in the back of the head with a mighty elbow. Smith calls time immediately, and he quickly brings in the doctor, as Brundage is in a bad way from the foul.
Brundage sits up against the cage, and Smith exits the cage to check replay footage to see the extent of the elbow landing. There is no specific time allotment for this type of foul, and Brundage asks how much time he has to recover when Smith inquires if Brundage can continue. The physician comes in to check on Brundage’s condition again, and Brundage is not ready to resume fighting. The fight is waved off, and due to the directly aimed blow clearly to the back of the head, it could be a disqualification if the strike is deemed intentional by Smith. This is an unfortunate ending to what at the time had been a potential 10-8 round for Malkoun, as 45 seconds remained on the clock with Malkoun in full control.

The Official Result
Cody Brundage def. Jacob Malkoun R1 4:15 via Disqualification (Illegal Elbow)

Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 17, 2023 (6 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Angelo notes Brundage has power and wrestling but poor fight IQ and a tendency to lose fights he dominates. Malkoun has relentless takedowns and cardio, and if he avoids an early big right hand, he should dominate. Angelo is pretty confident in Malkoun.

"Jacob mokun is the pick pretty confident in him to win this"

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2023 (2 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Big Brady is confident in Jacob Malkoun, citing his phenomenal offensive wrestling, cardio, and control. He notes Cody Brundage has poor defensive wrestling and tends to stall on bottom. Malkoun must avoid Brundage's early power and guillotine attempts, but once he gets top position, he should dominate. Brady predicts a submission but is not fully sold on the method.

submission

"I'll say malcoon I'll say he does sub him but I'm not like completely sold on the method"

DFS by the Numbers

Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 20, 2023 (3 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Cody picks Jacob Malkoun by decision, calling it play of the week. He highlights Malkoun's relentless takedowns and top control, while Brundage has terrible output and poor fight IQ (jumping guillotines). He expects Malkoun to dominate with wrestling and grind out a decision.

Malkoun by decision at +135; over 3.5 takedowns for Malkoun.

"this to me seems like play of the week play of the week and a half... malcoon by decision you just follow the tread."

Bookie Beatdown

Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2023 (2 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Daniel is very confident Malkoun dominates, calling Brundage a quitter with terrible output (3 strikes in last fight). He praises Malkoun's relentless takedown attempts and tenacity, noting he attempted 24 takedowns against Alhassan. He thinks Malkoun will break Brundage with pace and pressure, possibly getting a finish. He sees this as a massive mismatch.

fight doesn't go to decision; Malkoun inside distance

"I think Jacob malcon is going to break this guy whether it's over three rounds to show his dominance or if Cody wants to cover up and let Jacob malcon get his first UFC finish"

Half the Battle

Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Sep 20, 2023 (3 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Lucrative James picks Malkoun but is hesitant due to his chin issues. He expects Malkoun to wrestle and grind out a decision, but acknowledges Brundage's power and volatility could lead to an early KO. He suggests betting Brundage inside the distance or round 1 instead of Malkoun's moneyline at -500.

Brundage inside the distance or round 1 considered

"I'm obviously picking Malkoun... but he's got a bad chin and Cody kind of hits hard."

Lucrative MMA

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2023 (2 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

The host picks Malkoun at minus 600, calling him a safe parlay piece. He highlights Malkoun's refined wrestling and BJJ black belt, contrasting with Brundage's poor fight IQ and tendency to pull guillotine. He expects Malkoun to smother Brundage on the ground and win a decision, noting Brundage's 0-3 skid and likely cut if he loses.

"I completely understand why malcoon is a minus 600 favorite and I'm completely fine with throwing him into a parlay here"

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Sep 20, 2023 (3 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Paul also picks Malkoun by decision, noting his consistent takedown numbers and Brundage's tendency to jump guillotine. He likes Malkoun's wrestling and thinks Brundage has no path to victory. He mentions Malkoun's decision prop at +135.

Malkoun by decision at +135; over 3.5 takedowns for Malkoun.

"Malcolm by decision he's like plus 135 I see at some shops out there I don't mind that I think he's just gonna do what he does."

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 19, 2023 (4 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

The MMA Guru picks Jacob Malkoun, criticizing Cody Brundage's recent performances, especially his loss to Cedric Dumas where he 'shelled up and accepted defeat.' He notes Brundage is on a three-fight losing streak and lacks finishing potential except against low-level opponents. He expects Malkoun to outgrind Brundage over three rounds, as Brundage doesn't have the skills to finish or compete effectively.

"I'm gonna have to go with Jacob malcune over Cody Brundage Cody brandage looked awful against Cedric Dumas..."

THE MMA GURU

WIN vs Nick Maximov

Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Araujo · Oct 15, 2022

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Jacob Malkoun	0	34 of 102	33%	56 of 124	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:04
Nick Maximov	0	83 of 164	50%	129 of 214	9 of 13	69%	0	0	7:37

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Jacob Malkoun	19 of 61	31%	19 of 61	0 of 0	---	0:04
1	Nick Maximov	36 of 75	48%	38 of 77	5 of 7	71%	1:10
2	Jacob Malkoun	7 of 24	29%	12 of 29	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Nick Maximov	36 of 66	54%	61 of 92	1 of 2	50%	2:42
3	Jacob Malkoun	8 of 17	47%	25 of 34	0 of 0	---	0:00
3	Nick Maximov	11 of 23	47%	30 of 45	3 of 4	75%	3:45

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Jacob Malkoun	34 of 102	33%	29 of 96	4 of 5	1 of 1	34 of 101	0 of 0	0 of 1
Nick Maximov	83 of 164	50%	78 of 158	4 of 5	1 of 1	66 of 141	4 of 8	13 of 15

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Jacob Malkoun	19 of 61	31%	17 of 59	2 of 2	0 of 0	19 of 60	0 of 0	0 of 1
1	Nick Maximov	36 of 75	48%	35 of 74	1 of 1	0 of 0	34 of 72	0 of 1	2 of 2
2	Jacob Malkoun	7 of 24	29%	5 of 21	2 of 3	0 of 0	7 of 24	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Nick Maximov	36 of 66	54%	33 of 62	2 of 3	1 of 1	29 of 58	1 of 1	6 of 7
3	Jacob Malkoun	8 of 17	47%	7 of 16	0 of 0	1 of 1	8 of 17	0 of 0	0 of 0
3	Nick Maximov	11 of 23	47%	10 of 22	1 of 1	0 of 0	3 of 11	3 of 6	5 of 6

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Jacob Malkoun vs. Nick Maximov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Maximov (-135), Malkoun (+115)

Round 1
Two training partners-turned-UFC middleweights will grace the cage next, as Nick Diaz Academy product Maximov (8-1, 2-1 UFC) will aim to bounce back from his first career defeat at the expense of Robert Whittaker teammate Malkoun (6-2, 2-2 UFC). Ready for whatever happens next is referee Mark Smith, and the fighters do not touch ‘em up. They both measure their range with high kicks, but neither man lands with them. Instead, they switch things up to jabs, and they peck at one another from a distance. Maximov walks his opponent down and straight into repeated jabs, and he loads up on a huge left hand. When it misses, he doubles down with another, and it stuns the Aussie and drops him to his knees. Malkoun attempts to take the fight down when hurt, and after a brief grappling stalemate, they return to their feet. Maximov looks to get his feet beneath him again and work his jab once more, but Maximov has found his range with hooks. The Nick Diaz-trained fighter just misses with a spinning wheel kick, but he clips Malkoun coming in with a sharp left. Malkoun ducks down with a single, and he wrenches Maximov down to the mat. The American works his way to his knees and back to his feet, but Malkoun immediately secures a mat return. The grind continues for Malkoun, who yanks Maximov down any time he stands back up. Maximov wriggles out of the grip, and he backs off to the fence and gets popped with a left hook. Malkoun connects with a few punches that draw a grin out of his opponent, and he might have compromised Maximov when attacking. Maximov winces as he backs off, and Malkoun gives chase and connects with a few punches before setting him down with a snatch single. Maximov works his way back up, and Malkoun follows him every step of the way and sneaks a right hand around the guard. Maximov shells up and is defending, and he cannot back Malkoun off even when getting a left hand in. As soon as the horn sounds, Maximov reaches to his right leg in pain, and he lets out a yelp. It is unclear if he will be able to continue, and his corner calms him down and has him sit on his stool to recover. Smith calls in the doctor between rounds, but Maximov is cleared to keep fighting.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun

Round 2
Knowing his opponent is in trouble, Malkoun pushes his foot on the gas and rushes out of his corner to engage when Round 2 begins. He backs Maximov off and hits a single with ease, and this time, Maximov is not as eager or able to work right back up. Instead, Maximov closes his guard around the waist, and he is wincing greatly when trying to maneuver his right leg for the guard. Malkoun postures up and lines up with a right hand, but his foe keeps his gloves high to defend it. Maximov leans to his side but cannot get up, and Malkoun drops down left hands in the form of hammers. The pain is clear on Maximov’s face, and he is completely devoid of offense as he lays on his back. Malkoun comfortably moves to half guard, and he aims to drop down ground-and-pound while Maximov is doing anything in his power to show signs of life. With every bit of his energy, Maximov grits his teeth and explodes back to his feet. He immediately backs off, and Malkoun walks him down and lumps him up with heavy punches. Malkoun slips a few punches and plods forward, all while Maximov limps back. Malkoun has a right hand get through, and Smith tells Maximov to fight back. Maximov shells up and backpedals, and when he has a guard high, Malkoun rips the body. Practically every step from Maximov draws a physical reaction out of him, and Malkoun decides to kick the legs for good measure. The one-sided but hardly dominant round ends as Malkoun lands a few more punches.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun

Round 3
The doctors come to check on Maximov again between rounds, and despite the limp and obvious pain, Maximov is once more good to go. A few punches from Malkoun lead to a takedown, and he grabs a single and lowers Maximov to the mat gently. Malkoun searches for a rubber guard with his non-damaged leg, but Malkoun shrugs it off and continues holding on from above. A little light ground-and-pound is absorbed by the Californian before he jumps back up to his feet, and Malkoun is on him with his fists. Smith is paying close attention to the injured fighter, and Malkoun grips his man from behind and then slings leather at him. Maximov strings two punches together, but neither find their target as the Aussie is able to evade them. Maximov tumbles to the ground from a single-leg takedown, and Malkoun clings to his damaged opponent without landing much in the way of offense on his own right. Malkoun grinds from top position, preferring to rack up control time rather than deal damage. The heavy top pressure is not enough to keep even the injured Maximov down, and Maximov works his way back up and connects with a few punches to get the audience back in the fight. Malkoun takes any momentum away with a labored but simple single, and Maximov has no hope of defending it in his condition. Maximov turns to his knees, despite this, and wants to fight his way back up. Malkoun holds him down with a front choke that is more to hang on than to actually submit anyone, and the horn mercifully sounds to conclude this miserable fight.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (30-27 Malkoun)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (30-27 Malkoun)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (30-27 Malkoun)

The Official Result
Jacob Malkoun def. Nick Maximov via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 9, 2022 (6 days before fight)

Nick Maximov

Angelo leans Nick Maximov in a razor-thin matchup between two grapplers. He notes that Maximov has better wrestling and BJJ, and that the fight will likely be decided by grappling. He acknowledges Malkoun has raw power but is not the better wrestler. This is a close fight and Angelo is not highly confident.

"I am going to leave Max lean maximoff here because I think he's just got the better wrestling and the better BJJ"

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Lean picked Oct 9, 2022 (6 days before fight)

Nick Maximov

Big Brady leans slightly toward Nick Maximov to win a close decision. He notes both fighters are similar wrestlers, but gives Maximov advantages in size (height, reach), cardio, and quality of wins (over Soriano and Brundage). He thinks Maximov is the better wrestler and will grind out a decision, but calls it a tricky fight to call.

"I do lean the maximum off side but this fight's tough to call"

DFS by the Numbers

Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Oct 12, 2022 (3 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Cody leans towards Malkoun as a slight underdog, calling it a 50/50 fight. He notes both are wrestlers, but Malkoun may have a slight edge in striking and willingness to engage. He thinks Malkoun's takedown ability against strong opponents like Alhassan and Dobson is impressive.

"I'm leaning towards maybe malcoon... it's just another dog or pass type fight."

Bookie Beatdown

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2022 (4 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Both fighters are similar grapplers, but Malkoun's pressure and ability to scramble from bottom positions give him an edge. He never settles and uses butterfly hooks to get back to his feet or reverse. Maximov is a higher belt but Malkoun's relentless style should make it competitive. At plus money, the host sees value on Malkoun, expecting a close decision.

Jacob Malkoun by decision +200

"give me malcoon plus 125 via decision as well you can get that around plus 200. I love that as an underdog spot"

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Oct 12, 2022 (3 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Paul also leans Malkoun, noting the fight is a toss-up. He thinks Malkoun's wrestling and strength could be the difference, and he is more willing to strike than Maximov. He calls it a dog or pass fight.

"I'm gonna classify this one as another dog or pass... give me uh Jacob Malcolm."

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2022 (4 days before fight)

Nick Maximov

The MMA Guru picks Nick Maximov, believing he will out-hustle Jacob Malkoun in grappling. He notes that Maximov's loss to Andre Petroski was a choke, not damage, and that he has less pressure now. He trusts Maximov's jiu-jitsu to secure positional advantage and potentially find the back, while Malkoun lacks submission or KO power.

"I'm going to be going with Nick maximov here"

THE MMA GURU

LOSS vs Brendan Allen

Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 275: Teixeira vs. Prochazka · Jun 12, 2022

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Brendan Allen	0	45 of 74	60%	89 of 122	2 of 2	100%	0	2	3:24
Jacob Malkoun	0	33 of 55	60%	66 of 96	7 of 14	50%	0	0	7:09

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Rev.	Ctrl
1	Brendan Allen	15 of 34	44%	25 of 45	1 of 1	100%	0	0:39
1	Jacob Malkoun	10 of 20	50%	13 of 27	3 of 6	50%	0	2:24
2	Brendan Allen	12 of 16	75%	25 of 29	0 of 0	---	1	0:39
2	Jacob Malkoun	12 of 19	63%	32 of 43	2 of 4	50%	0	2:58
3	Brendan Allen	18 of 24	75%	39 of 48	1 of 1	100%	1	2:06
3	Jacob Malkoun	11 of 16	68%	21 of 26	2 of 4	50%	0	1:47

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Brendan Allen	45 of 74	60%	36 of 62	2 of 4	7 of 8	28 of 55	0 of 1	17 of 18
Jacob Malkoun	33 of 55	60%	29 of 50	3 of 4	1 of 1	29 of 48	1 of 1	3 of 6

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Brendan Allen	15 of 34	44%	8 of 24	2 of 4	5 of 6	14 of 33	0 of 0	1 of 1
1	Jacob Malkoun	10 of 20	50%	8 of 18	1 of 1	1 of 1	9 of 19	1 of 1	0 of 0
2	Brendan Allen	12 of 16	75%	10 of 14	0 of 0	2 of 2	7 of 11	0 of 0	5 of 5
2	Jacob Malkoun	12 of 19	63%	10 of 16	2 of 3	0 of 0	10 of 14	0 of 0	2 of 5
3	Brendan Allen	18 of 24	75%	18 of 24	0 of 0	0 of 0	7 of 11	0 of 1	11 of 12
3	Jacob Malkoun	11 of 16	68%	11 of 16	0 of 0	0 of 0	10 of 15	0 of 0	1 of 1

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Brendan Allen vs. Jacob Malkoun
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Allen (-280), Malkoun (+225)

Round 1
Moving right along, this next fight comes up at middleweight, when Allen (18-5, 6-2 UFC) drops back down to 185 pounds in hopes of defanging “Mamba” Malkoun (6-1, 2-1 UFC). The third man inside the Octagon will be gold-standard referee Jason Herzog, and he takes a step back when the fighters wade forward with no interest in touching gloves. Allen fires off a few high kicks and a jab to follow, and he catches Malkoun backing up with a leg kick. Allen goes over the top with a right hand, and Malkoun looks to stand firm and blast him back. They trade big punches on the inside, and Allen backs off and aims a kick low. Malkoun scores solidly with a jab, and Allen chomps down on his gumshield to throw heavy leather. “Mamba” is able to slither out of danger and answer Allen with a solid right hand, but Allen is on him giving chase. Allen loads up on power punches, darting forward and making the Aussie retreat. As Allen lands a low kick, Malkoun pursues a takedown. Malkoun takes Allen’s legs out beneath him as Allen pursues a possible guillotine choke setup, and he shrugs his neck out and they both stand up. Malkoun keeps his hands clasped behind Allen’s waist, and he elects to simply drag Allen down on top of him when he cannot otherwise take Allen down. Allen ends up giving his back up when unable to twist around, and Malkoun gets one hook in and holds him tight. Allen turns to his knees and powers back up with Malkoun on his back, and he lifts Allen up but cannot plant him down. Allen hops towards the cage and reverses Malkoun to throw him down to the mat with emphasis. “All In” goes all-in as he claims mount in a hurry, but before he can get off any noteworthy offense, Malkoun is scrambling wildly. Allen threatens with a submission, and they both power back up instead. Allen clings to a guillotine choke when Malkoun looks to tackle him back over, and the Aussie wriggles his neck out and gets on top. Allen scoots his way to the wall on a single knee, and he stands up with a few seconds to spare. Malkoun holds on, taking a short punch and elbow to the face, before the horn blares.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Allen

Round 2
The middleweights do decide to touch gloves to start off the second round, and Allen starts off hot with a few power punches that get blocked. Malkoun responds with a looping right hand, and Allen kicks him in the head for good measure. Malkoun pushes out a few jabs, leading to Allen imploring him to strike with him. As Allen advances, Malkoun clips him with a straight left, getting stunned for a moment. They both land powerful hooks, and Allen chains the punch into a low kick. As soon as it lands, Malkoun attacks a single-leg takedown, and Allen fights off this try and a subsequent trip but gets pulled down to the mat. Allen cannot stay upright, even with a cheeky fence grab, and he falls to his back and closes his guard. The Aussie steps over to half guard, and he grinds with his forehead instead of striking. Allen slashes with elbows from his back, and he bucks Malkoun off to walk up the cage back to his feet. Malkoun lets him spin around so that he can wrench Allen down to the ground with a single. Malkoun jumps to half guard and gets off a couple short punches to the body, and he has one go over the top. Malkoun hangs on from on top, and he sits up to drop down a pair of elbows before glomming back down. Allen scrambles after these strikes, getting to a knee and ultimately surrendering his back. Allen times an explosion quickly to gain top position, and he leaps over to side control with about 30 seconds left in the round. Allen hammers down a few short elbows as the round comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun

Round 3
To start off the round in a reversal of fortunes, Allen shoots for a takedown early. Although he puts Malkoun on his back, the Aussie scrambles during a transition to get back to his feet. Allen lets his hands go, marking Malkoun up, and Malkoun tries to respond with a few jabs. Malkoun charges wildly forward to hunt for a single, and he grounds Allen momentarily. The American climbs back to his feet as Malkoun is holding his back standing, and Malkoun whips him back down to the canvas. Allen nails him with a couple elbows off his back, but this offense slows when Malkoun holds his own head on top of Allen’s. “All In” kicks off but cannot get Malkoun off of him, and Malkoun takes his back. Allen turns the tables to get on top, and Malkoun doggedly reverses him and goes for a single. Allen steps all the way through to get on top, as both men embark in a thrilling wrestling exchange. Malkoun will not let him into his guard, but Allen lowers himself in and lands a few strikes from above. Allen hacks with an elbow or two as he has Malkoun flat on his back, and he drops down a few punches to mix things up. Malkoun defends with a triangle off his back to tie his man up and reach the scorecards.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (29-28 Malkoun)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (29-28 Malkoun)
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (29-28 Malkoun)

The Official Result
Brendan Allen def. Jacob Malkoun via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 5, 2022 (7 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Angelo picks Malkoun as an underdog, trusting his wrestling and takedown ability. He notes Allen is inconsistent and looked terrible against Sam Alvey despite winning. He believes Malkoun's grappling is as good or better than Allen's, and he likes the plus 3.5 round bet as a safer play.

plus 3.5 rounds (buy a round) - if Malkoun wins one round and doesn't get stopped, bet wins

"i think i trust jacob mulcoon here i think i trust him to get the takedowns he took down abdul razak al-san eight times aj dobson six times and i think my pick is malcoon"

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)

Brendan Allen

Big Brady picks Brendan Allen to win by first-round knockout. He highlights Allen's superior grappling, having submitted Kevin Holland and outgrappled Kyle Daukaus, and notes that Malkoun's wins came against lower-level competition. He believes Allen has the striking advantage and will finish Malkoun early, either by TKO or submission.

first round finish

"I think Brendan Allen kind of runs through Jacob Malkoun here give me Brendan Allen to win I'm going to say first round... I'm gonna say first round KO for Brendan Allen."

DFS by the Numbers

Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)

Brendan Allen

Cody confidently picks Allen, citing his superior striking and grappling. He dismisses Malkoun's credentials, noting he is a purple belt and not a high-level grappler. He thinks Allen's wrestling is good enough to keep the fight standing and win by TKO or decision.

Allen inside the distance

"i do got brandon down to get the job done"

Bookie Beatdown

Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)

Brendan Allen

Daniel Levi picks Brendan Allen, citing his superior athleticism, experience, and grappling. He respects Malkoun's relentless takedown style but believes Allen has the tools to reverse or submit him. He notes that Allen is better everywhere and that Malkoun's path to victory is narrow. He is confident Allen will find a way to win.

"I'm with you and I will take the favorite in Brennan Allen as well"

Half the Battle

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Jun 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)

Brendan Allen

Allen is the more complete fighter and should have advantages on the feet and in submission grappling. However, Malkoun is a pure wrestler who can grind out a decision. Allen is overpriced at -320; the value is on Malkoun. I predict Allen wins but the best bet is over 2.5 rounds at plus money.

Over 2.5 rounds (+110), Malkoun by decision (+900)

"My prediction is going to be brendan allen because i think he's the better complete fighter here but from a gambling perspective there's no way he should be up in the minus 300 range."

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)

Brendan Allen

Paul leans Allen but is not confident due to the price. He thinks Allen is the rightful favorite but the juice is too high. He considers Malkoun by decision at +800 but likely passes.

considered Malkoun by decision +800

"i think allen is the rightful favorite but it's a little bit too much juice for me to squeeze"

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)

Brendan Allen

The MMA Guru picks Brendan Allen to win by 30-27 decision. He believes Allen is bigger and stronger than Malkoun's previous opponents, and that Malkoun's grappling-heavy style won't work against Allen. He notes that Malkoun has relied on takedowns and control, but Allen builds as the fight goes on and won't be out-hustled. He sees no path for Malkoun unless he gets a finish, which he doubts due to lack of explosiveness. He cites Allen's youth and experience advantage.

"i'm gonna see uh brendan allen 30 27 shutout decision win"

THE MMA GURU

WIN vs A.J. Dobson

Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 271: Adesanya vs. Whittaker 2 · Feb 12, 2022

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Jacob Malkoun	0	52 of 90	57%	68 of 110	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:27
A.J. Dobson	0	80 of 128	62%	183 of 255	6 of 16	37%	0	0	9:17

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Jacob Malkoun	41 of 69	59%	46 of 75	0 of 0	---	0:10
1	A.J. Dobson	24 of 48	50%	26 of 50	1 of 8	12%	1:01
2	Jacob Malkoun	4 of 12	33%	5 of 13	0 of 0	---	0:17
2	A.J. Dobson	25 of 37	67%	82 of 108	2 of 4	50%	3:45
3	Jacob Malkoun	7 of 9	77%	17 of 22	0 of 0	---	0:00
3	A.J. Dobson	31 of 43	72%	75 of 97	3 of 4	75%	4:31

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Jacob Malkoun	52 of 90	57%	41 of 79	6 of 6	5 of 5	44 of 78	5 of 9	3 of 3
A.J. Dobson	80 of 128	62%	70 of 118	9 of 9	1 of 1	29 of 57	4 of 7	47 of 64

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Jacob Malkoun	41 of 69	59%	33 of 61	4 of 4	4 of 4	37 of 62	4 of 7	0 of 0
1	A.J. Dobson	24 of 48	50%	22 of 46	2 of 2	0 of 0	23 of 46	1 of 2	0 of 0
2	Jacob Malkoun	4 of 12	33%	2 of 10	1 of 1	1 of 1	3 of 10	1 of 2	0 of 0
2	A.J. Dobson	25 of 37	67%	23 of 35	2 of 2	0 of 0	1 of 4	3 of 5	21 of 28
3	Jacob Malkoun	7 of 9	77%	6 of 8	1 of 1	0 of 0	4 of 6	0 of 0	3 of 3
3	A.J. Dobson	31 of 43	72%	25 of 37	5 of 5	1 of 1	5 of 7	0 of 0	26 of 36

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

A.J. Dobson vs. Jacob Malkoun

Round 1
Training partners of fan-favorite ex-UFC champs will come to blows in this middleweight encounter, as Strong Style Fight Team’s Dobson (6-0, 1 NC; 0-0 UFC) – home of Stipe Miocic – meets PMA Super Martial Arts prospect Malkoun (5-1, 1-1 UFC), a teammate of headliner Robert Whittaker. The third man in the cage for what could be a quick one is referee Herb Dean, who is ready for whatever comes his way as he bears witness to a touch of gloves. Dobson quickly fires off a right hand, and he slips back to sling a right hand as Malkoun just dodges in time. Dobson cracks his foe with a right hand, forcing the Aussie to shoot for a desperation takedown. Dobson gets lifted up in the air, but he slithers his legs down to the mat so that he can keep his balance and not get taken down, in an impressive display of balance. “Mamba” grinds Dobson against the fence until Dobson breaks off, and he loose a quick one-two that connects cleanly on the beard of Malkoun. Dobson tries to time a right hand low when Malkoun attacks for a takedown, and Dobson once more keeps his balance when Malkoun elevates him. The newcomer manages to break the grip, pushes off and returns to his preferred boxing range. Malkoun lets go with a few punches, but Dobson grabs him to knee him in the body a few times. Malkoun flicks out a jab, but Dobson ignores them and answers with some of his own. A quick chain of punches come out as Malkoun retreats, and he connects with a solid leg kick at the end of a combination. Dobson snaps the head back with a punch and goes up high with a kick, and every strike that lands seems to draw a reaction out of his opponent. Malkoun sits down on a right hand, but Dobson does not even budge when it smacks into his cheek. Dobson stands firm, delivering a couple more one-twos and a body kick. When Malkoun lifts his man’s leg up in pursuit of a takedown, Dobson hops back and bounces off the cage wall to get free. Dobson gives chase when he lands a few punches, and Malkoun is rocked from an accumulation of damage. Dobson takes the center of the cage and swats at his shaky man, clipping him with a left hook and a one-two that bounces off the side of the head. Malkoun drops down low for a single, lifting Dobson’s leg up in the air and finally securing a takedown. He can only maintain top position for a few seconds before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dobson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dobson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dobson

Round 2
They clap hands to start of the second round, and Dobson, brimming with confidence, strides out with a few jabs. He gets off a right hand, and closes the distance to slam a knee into the Aussie’s midsection. As he lands a few more strikes, he draws out another takedown entry from “Mamba,” but that too fails as Dobson turns him around and knees him in the body. They jockey for position against the fence, and Malkoun stays doggedly in pursuit of a takedown but nothing presents itself. Dobson is able to get Malkoun to back off when he sets up a Thai clinch, and he misses a knee by an inch. Malkoun resets, crashes forward and secures a takedown. The American gets to his knees without much issue, stands back up, and gets wrenched back down with a mat return. Malkoun begins to smash Dobson in the side of the head with his fists, and Dobson is hurt and in trouble as cornerman Mark Coleman bellows for Dobson to get up. Malkoun does not let him up, raining down left hands as he keeps Dobson stuck on a knee. The strikes turn from damaging ones to more frustrating shots, but Malkoun is able to step over and sit down on Dobson’s thigh to ground him. Dobson thinks to explode, but Malkoun continues to grind and slug Dobson in the face with powerful left hands. Malkoun pursues a guillotine choke when working Dobson over, and he fails on that but does not let Dobson off the hook. Dobson bursts back to his feet with 10 seconds to go, and he pops Malkoun with a pair of punches before the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Malkoun
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun

Round 3
The middleweights greet in the center of the cage, and Dobson appears energized when back upright again. He flicks out a jab that makes Malkoun blink it out a few times, and he catches Malkoun coming in with a right hand. The Aussie changes levels for a takedown, and the defense does not hold up for Dobson this time, as he gets pulled down to the mat. Dobson remains on his knees before jumping back up, and he succumbs to a mat return when Malkoun powers him back down. “Mamba” holds on from behind, landing sporadic right hands until the unbeaten fighter stands up. Malkoun continues his assault of takedown tries, and he sucks Dobson’s legs out beneath him and lands in half guard. Dobson wriggles himself to the corner between the floor and the wall, and Coleman’s encouragement is still somehow louder than all the boos raining down in the building combined. Malkoun does not register the crowd’s disappointment with his “embrace the grind” tactics, as he thumps down on Dobson with right hands. The fighters start talking to each other, with Dobson admitting his foe is stronger than he thought, and they continue to converse as Malkoun is pounding on him. Dobson tries to get into a slugfest from his back, with punches from his back, but Malkoun’s are considerably harder. Malkoun switches from punches to elbows as he staves off a standup from Dean, and precious seconds tick off the clock while Malkoun grinds him out. With just a few seconds left in the fight, Dobson somersaults backwards to get out of the position, stands up and wings a high kick, but it comes up short of the mark right before the fight ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (29-28 Malkoun)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (29-27 Malkoun)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (29-28 Malkoun)

The Official Result
Jacob Malkoun def. A.J. Dobson via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)

A.J. Dobson

Angelo picks A.J. Dobson, citing his incredible hand speed and power. He worries that Malkoun could wrestle but believes Dobson's speed advantage will allow him to land three times for every one of Malkoun's looping strikes. He dismisses the 'fade the contender series' narrative and expects Dobson to laser down the middle and touch Malkoun up.

"i like aj in this fight i do worry that if jacob just ducks and shoots he'll control aj but the fact that aj is not gun shy at all and will have a very clear speed advantage i like …"

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Feb 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)

A.J. Dobson

Big Brady sees this fight going one of two ways: Dobson knocking out Malkoun early or Malkoun wrestling Dobson to a decision. He leans toward Dobson because of his power and finishing ability, but admits he's not confident due to lack of information on Dobson's takedown defense. He compares it to Malkoun's win over Abdul Razak Alhassan where Malkoun used wrestling. Brady picks Dobson by first round knockout but says he can't be too confident.

Dobson by first round knockout

"I think dobson knocks him out and again i can't be too confident in this one"

DFS by the Numbers

Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Feb 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Cody leans Malkoun but is not confident. He notes Malkoun's grappling looked good against Alhassan, but his chin is a concern after the Phil Hawes KO. He thinks Dobson is explosive and could land a big shot, but Malkoun's path is via takedowns.

"the official pick gonna have to go with another favorite jacob malcolm"

Bookie Beatdown

Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Feb 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Daniel Levi picks Jacob Malkoun for an upset win, but is hesitant about the early going. He notes that A.J. Dobson is a freak athlete with power, but tends to overexert and fatigue. Malkoun's game plan of attempting many takedowns could work if he weathers the early storm. Levi mentions that Dobson was finished by a bum in amateurs, but that was years ago.

"i'll take jacob kuhn for an upset win"

Half the Battle

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Feb 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)

A.J. Dobson

Dobson has power and trains with strong camps, but his grappling and cardio are unproven. Malkoun will shoot for takedowns early, and if Dobson can't stop them or finish early, Malkoun could take over in later rounds. Dobson's only decision win was against a low-level opponent. The pick is based on trusting Dobson's camp and power, but it's a slight lean.

Dobson by KO; live bet on Malkoun in round 2 if Dobson looks tired

"as an official prediction and as official pick i'm actually gonna go with dobson here i i think i'm gonna trust in his training camp and the guys that he's been around"

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Feb 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Paul picks Malkoun, citing his grappling advantage and ability to grind out a win. He notes Dobson is wild and may gas. He expects Malkoun to take Dobson down and control him, but acknowledges the volatility.

under 2.5 rounds -145

"i'm gonna pick malcoon just because i think that aj dobson is incredibly sloppy"

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

The MMA Guru picks Jacob Malkoun, believing he has overcome his debut jitters and will use his grappling to control A.J. Dobson. He notes Dobson's debut pressure and Malkoun's experience against better competition like Abdul Razak Alhassan.

"i'm actually gonna go with jacob malcoon here"

THE MMA GURU

WIN vs Abdul Razak Alhassan

Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum · Apr 17, 2021

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Jacob Malkoun	0	21 of 47	44%	32 of 59	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:02
Abdul Razak Alhassan	0	27 of 55	49%	91 of 135	8 of 24	33%	2	0	11:41

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Ctrl
1	Jacob Malkoun	10 of 21	47%	11 of 22	0 of 0	---	0	0:00
1	Abdul Razak Alhassan	3 of 10	30%	15 of 30	4 of 11	36%	0	3:45
2	Jacob Malkoun	4 of 9	44%	6 of 11	0 of 0	---	0	0:00
2	Abdul Razak Alhassan	13 of 24	54%	33 of 46	2 of 4	50%	2	3:59
3	Jacob Malkoun	7 of 17	41%	15 of 26	0 of 0	---	0	0:02
3	Abdul Razak Alhassan	11 of 21	52%	43 of 59	2 of 9	22%	0	3:57

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Jacob Malkoun	21 of 47	44%	11 of 33	9 of 12	1 of 2	14 of 38	5 of 6	2 of 3
Abdul Razak Alhassan	27 of 55	49%	24 of 51	2 of 3	1 of 1	18 of 37	3 of 9	6 of 9

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Jacob Malkoun	10 of 21	47%	6 of 14	4 of 6	0 of 1	6 of 17	2 of 2	2 of 2
1	Abdul Razak Alhassan	3 of 10	30%	3 of 10	0 of 0	0 of 0	3 of 5	0 of 3	0 of 2
2	Jacob Malkoun	4 of 9	44%	1 of 6	2 of 2	1 of 1	4 of 9	0 of 0	0 of 0
2	Abdul Razak Alhassan	13 of 24	54%	12 of 22	1 of 2	0 of 0	6 of 15	1 of 3	6 of 6
3	Jacob Malkoun	7 of 17	41%	4 of 13	3 of 4	0 of 0	4 of 12	3 of 4	0 of 1
3	Abdul Razak Alhassan	11 of 21	52%	9 of 19	1 of 1	1 of 1	9 of 17	2 of 3	0 of 1

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Jacob Malkoun

Round 1
Up now, we try to snap the streak of four split decisions with what should be a middleweight banger, as Alhassan (10-3, 4-3 UFC) comes to blows with fellow slugger Malkoun (4-1, 0-1 UFC). Referee Chris Tognoni needs to keep his head on a swivel for this one, and there is a glove touch before fists start flying. Alhassan lets go with a head kick that gets dodged, and the Aussie quickly drops down low for a single leg takedown. He puts Alhassan on his back, and Alhassan kicks around to get to the fence and back to a knee. Malkoun considers a guillotine choke as he has Alhassan pressed against the cage, but Alhassan stands up anyway. “Judo Thunder” begins to unload with vicious elbows to the side of the head, and Malkoun is hurt but still able to pursue a takedown. Malkoun tries to take the fight back down when they separate, but this time, Alhassan stuffs it and starts to wing bombs. Malkoun keeps his composure and pursues a takedown, and he trips Alhassan’s leg out beneath him. The Texan climbs back up with assistance from a fence grab, and Malkoun trips him back down again. Once more, Alhassan angles to stand up, and there is a near-successful mat return for the Aussie. Malkoun is content to grind Alhassan up against the fence to fatigue the ferocious striker before tripping the leg out and putting Alhassan on his back. As Alhassan tries to climb up, Malkoun’s pressure is overwhelming and he plants Alhassan back down one more time. Alhassan gets his hips suck out from beneath him as soon as he is standing, and “Judo Thunder” looks irritated as he continues to get grounded. Alhassan finally gets back up and breaks the grip, where he lets loose a pair of slapping body kicks. The two trade jabs, and Tognoni warns them for outstretched fingers. Alhassan targets the body a few more times with his kick, and a head kick misses the mark before the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun

Round 2
The middleweights march to the center of the cage, greet one another with jabs, and it is Malkoun that makes Alhassan take a step back when he shoots in for a low single. He hits the takedown with ease, but he does not hold Alhassan there. When the Texan pops back up, Malkoun slams him back down in half guard. Alhassan defends with a guillotine choke, and as he tries to tighten it with his other hand, Malkoun slips his neck out. With no way for Alhassan to walk up the fence as they are square in the middle of the Octagon, Malkoun drops down a few punches. Alhassan circles his way around and tries to pop back up, and Malkoun pulls guard for a choke. Alhassan falls to his back as he survives the choke, and Malkoun repositions himself to return up on top. Once more, Malkoun rolls through for a guillotine choke attempt, and Alhassan defends it like before. Alhassan scrambles to his knees, and he falls into a potential anaconda choke. Alhassan breaks the grip and winds up giving up side control, and Malkoun lands a few shots before Alhassan scrambles once more. Malkoun drops down with the guillotine attempt to put Alhassan back down, and Alhassan is able to avoid the choke danger by grabbing his foe’s shorts and standing up. Malkoun does not give him a moment to breathe, pursuing a single leg takedown and then just pressing Alhassan into the cage. When they separate, Alhassan’s legs are wobbly possibly from fatigue, but he still wings power punches and huge head kicks. Malkoun stands him up with a pair of crisp punches, and he has Alhassan stuck against the fence before shooting in for a takedown. The Aussie cannot get the takedown before the horn blares.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Malkoun
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Malkoun
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Malkoun

Round 3
The middleweights decide to touch gloves to begin the final round, and Malkoun slaps the leg with a kick. Alhassan takes a few punches on the chin, and one right hand snaps his head back. Alhassan overextends himself with a left hand, which puts him right in position to have to defend a takedown. Alhassan shucks it off, and Malkoun backs away to pursue a different angle. The Aussie crashes forward with his takedown, and this time, it puts Alhassan flat on his back. Malkoun sits comfortable in half guard, where he works on the spent Alhassan with right hands and elbows. Alhassan looks to sit up, and he rolls to a knee into the guillotine choke where Malkoun has tried before. Alhassan lifts Malkoun in the air to get out of the choke, and Malkoun lets go and chases him with big punches. “Mamba” squeezes Alhassan into the cage wall, but he cannot keep him trapped for long. Malkoun gives Alhassan a few seconds to reset before charging in for a takedown attempt, lather, rinse, repeat, but he cannot quite trip the leg. Malkoun circles around to take the back standing, and Alhassan keeps his balance. Malkoun tries to break the posture with foot stomps and knees up high, and Alhassan pushes him away and slips back into the fence. Malkoun follows him there, where he slings Alhassan to the canvas with a single. Malkoun decides to let go with ground-and-pound now that Alhassan closes his guard around him, and Alhassan decides it would be in his best interest to throw back instead of escape this position. Alhassan scoots into the corner of the fence and the floor, where he uses the angle to stand back up. Malkoun takes him from behind and looks to elevate him and slam him down, but he circles around to drop low for a single. When it fails, Malkoun drops down for one last takedown, and Alhassan pushes him away and tries to decapitate his foe with a diving right hand in the last seconds. Unlike Dan Henderson on Michael Bisping, the booming shot misses the mark, and the grind of a fight is mercifully over.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (30-26 Malkoun)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (30-26 Malkoun)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (30-26 Malkoun)

The Official Result
Jacob Malkoun def. Abdul Razak Alhassan via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 15, 2021 (2 days before fight)

Abdul Razak Alhassan

Big Brady picks Abdul Razak Alhassan to win by first-round knockout. He notes Alhassan has a 100% finish rate, all by knockout in the first round. He believes Malkoun is not ready for this level of competition, citing Malkoun's loss to Phil Hawes where he fell from the first punch. He suggests if Malkoun survives the first round, he could be a live betting opportunity, but he expects a brutal knockout within the first 60 seconds. He also mentions Alhassan's recent losses but considers this a favorable matchup.

First round KO prop suggested; if Malkoun survives first round, live bet Malkoun

"i'm gonna take all hassan to win in the first round"

DFS by the Numbers

Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 14, 2021 (3 days before fight)

Abdul Razak Alhassan

Cody thinks Alhassan has tremendous power and will likely finish Malkoun in the first round. He notes that Malkoun is not a natural middleweight and was knocked out quickly by Phil Hawes. He acknowledges Alhassan's cardio issues but believes Malkoun is not physical enough to exploit them. He suggests live betting Alhassan or taking him by knockout.

Alhassan by knockout, under 1.5 rounds

"i think all his sons only got five minutes but he'll need less than that once he connects on malcolm that should be it"

Bookie Beatdown

Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Apr 16, 2021 (1 day before fight)

Abdul Razak Alhassan

Daniel Levi confidently picks Abdul Razak Alhassan, stating that this fight is about Razak, not Malkoun. He believes Malkoun does not belong in the UFC and is only there because he is Robert Whittaker's training partner. Levi notes that Razak has been through a lot mentally but expects him to knock Malkoun out in the first round. He also mentions that Razak is actually bigger than Malkoun in terms of height and reach.

first round knockout

"i got razaki a first round knockout"

Half the Battle

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 16, 2021 (1 day before fight)

Abdul Razak Alhassan

Manpreet is confident Alhassan will win by first-round knockout, noting that all his UFC wins have come in round one and that Malkoun was knocked out quickly by Phil Hawes. He believes Alhassan's power and aggression will overwhelm Malkoun, who is a natural welterweight moving up and has questionable durability. He recommends the round one prop at plus money.

Alhassan in round 1 +140; Alhassan by KO -135

"i think that razak will just kind of crash forward close the distance really really quickly and uh get him out of here so i'm liking razak first round uh plus 140"

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Apr 14, 2021 (3 days before fight)

Abdul Razak Alhassan

Paul calls this fight 'prime apple pie shit' because Alhassan has failed as a favorite multiple times. He notes that Alhassan has no cardio and his takedown defense disappears when tired. However, he thinks Malkoun is not good enough to take advantage. He is reluctant but leans Alhassan, and mentions a 20-1 prop on Malkoun by submission as a longshot.

Malkoun by submission at 20-1

"he's definitely prime apple pie [ __ ] he's done it many times before this is another spot"

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Apr 11, 2021 (6 days before fight)

Abdul Razak Alhassan

The MMA Guru picks Abdul Razak Alhassan to win by unanimous decision, though he calls it risky due to Alhassan's recent rough patch. He criticizes Jacob Malkoun's rushed career and poor performance against Phil Hawes. He doubts Malkoun's ability to finish or outpoint Alhassan, and believes Alhassan will be patient and grind out a 30-27 decision.

"i'm going to go with abdul azako hassan here by decision"

THE MMA GURU

View all 9 fights

Gerald Meerschaert - Fight History

LOSS vs Jacob Malkoun

Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates · May 02, 2026

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	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
1	Jacob Malkoun	6 of 12	50%	11 of 17	1 of 1	100%	0	0	0:13
1	Gerald Meerschaert	4 of 5	80%	15 of 18	0 of 0	---	1	1	3:56
2	Jacob Malkoun	18 of 42	42%	30 of 57	0 of 0	---	0	0	1:23
2	Gerald Meerschaert	16 of 32	50%	18 of 35	0 of 1	0%	0	0	0:00
3	Jacob Malkoun	12 of 28	42%	13 of 29	2 of 2	100%	0	0	0:41
3	Gerald Meerschaert	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
1	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
2	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
3	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 Sherdog

Angelo Bodetti Expert Lock picked Apr 26, 2026 (6 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

No prop bets mentioned; odds noted as -800.

"Jacob Malcoun is a very expensive minus 800. I think that's a discount off what it should actually be."

We Want Picks

Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2026 (2 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

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.

TKO prop

"Malcoun wins. Malcoun wins easy, but you got to chase a prop. And I do take the knockout."

Bookie Beatdown

Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked May 1, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

"Yeah, I you know, even when Mirchard was improving he was relying on the opponents being bad and clueless to get wins."

MMA Vivisection

Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Apr 29, 2026 (3 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

"I got Jacob Malcun to come out here and knock out GM3 in the first round."

Half the Battle

Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Confident picked May 1, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Over 1.5 rounds at 1.64 (small bet)

"I don't really see any path to victory for Meerschaert other than hitting a crazy Hail Mary submission... I do quite like the over 1.5 rounds on this."

Diary of a Pro Gambler

Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Apr 26, 2026 (6 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

"I got Jacob Malcoun comfortably winning this fight... I'll take him to win, I guess, TKO."

Lucrative MMA

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 28, 2026 (4 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Inside the distance

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2026 (2 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

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.

KO prop

"I'm just probably going the Malccom by KO prop."

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 1, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

odds comment: -1100 favorite, should be -400

"Jacob Malkoun is a minus 1,100 favorite and I don't think he should be that big of a favorite first of all, but Malkoun's pretty good."

THE MMA GURU

Zane Simon Expert Confident picked May 1, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

"So Malcolm is just going to chew him up. Yeah, it is. It is truly sad because Gerald Marshard is one of the only guys in the entire UFC who I think seems like a actually chill dude."

MMA Vivisection

LOSS vs Kyle Daukaus

Submission R1 0:50 · UFC 322 · Nov 15, 2025

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
1	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
1	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 Sherdog

Kyle Daukaus vs. Gerald Meerschaert
BETTING 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 Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)

Kyle Daukaus

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.

"Kyle's going to be the pick, but I hate that this dude could even be in the same room as these odds."

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)

Kyle Daukaus

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.

first round knockout

"I'm going to go Kyle Dawkins to win this fight by first round knockout."

DFS by the Numbers

Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)

Kyle Daukaus

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.

inside the distance by TKO

"Daukaus is the guy to put that nail in the coffin, so inside the distance by TKO possibly in the first round."

Bookie Beatdown

Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Nov 14, 2025 (1 day before fight)

Kyle Daukaus

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.

Odds: Daukaus opened -260, currently -500.

"I think it's possible we might be getting a Kyle Dawkins, a young veteran run here."

MMA Vivisection

Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)

Kyle Daukaus

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.

first round knockout

"I think that DACA is going to come out here and feast on the carcass again. And so for that reason, I'm going to go Kyle Dawkins to come out here and actually get a first round knockout."

Half the Battle

Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Nov 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)

Kyle 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.

"I think Doras is going to win this one, boys."

Lucrative MMA

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)

Kyle 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.

inside the distance

"I think Dawis can pretty much win this fight whichever way he chooses. ... I'm just going to go with the broad finishing method here and say inside the distance."

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)

Kyle Daukaus

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.

Daukaus by KO +215

"Daukaus by KO plus 215. I I just I just hit submit."

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)

Kyle Daukaus

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.

TKO in round 2

"I'll say TKO win in round two for Dorcas. I reckon he'll get a finish here over Mot."

THE MMA GURU

Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Nov 14, 2025 (1 day before fight)

Kyle Daukaus

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.

Odds: Daukaus opened -260, currently -500. Meerschaert opened +220, currently +385.

"I got to pick that cause he's always had surprisingly fast hands."

MMA Vivisection

LOSS vs Michał Oleksiejczuk

KO R1 3:03 · UFC 319: du Plessis vs. Chimaev · Aug 16, 2025

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
1	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
1	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 Bodetti Expert Lean picked Aug 10, 2025 (6 days before fight)

Michał Oleksiejczuk

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.

Under no circumstances should he be a minus 225 in a very tricky matchup

"I'm going to lean McCall because I think it's easier for him to stay away from the takedowns while letting his hands fly against a somewhat chinny Gerro Mirard."

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 12, 2025 (4 days before fight)

Michał Oleksiejczuk

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.

Oleksiejczuk by KO, round 1

"I think Oluk knocks out Mirart, and I think he does it in round number one."

DFS by the Numbers

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2025 (1 day before fight)

Michał Oleksiejczuk

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.

finish in the third round

"I think he'll eventually be able to muster up a finish in the third round of this fight as he wears Mirard down with his striking approach"

MMA Lock of the Night

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 13, 2025 (3 days before fight)

Michał Oleksiejczuk

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.

TKO first or second round; Oleksiejczuk finishes Meerschaert

"I'm going with Macaux. ... TKO first or second round."

THE MMA GURU

LOSS vs Brad Tavares

Decision (unanimous) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Emmett vs. Murphy · Apr 05, 2025

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	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Brad Tavares	13 of 36	36%	14 of 37	0 of 0	---	0:00
1	Gerald Meerschaert	8 of 24	33%	8 of 24	0 of 2	0%	0:26
2	Brad Tavares	26 of 51	50%	26 of 51	0 of 0	---	0:01
2	Gerald Meerschaert	23 of 44	52%	23 of 45	0 of 1	0%	0:47
3	Brad Tavares	8 of 22	36%	16 of 30	0 of 0	---	0:00
3	Gerald Meerschaert	7 of 15	46%	20 of 28	0 of 5	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
1	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
2	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
3	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 Sherdog

Gerald Meerschaert vs. Brad Tavares
BETTING 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 Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 30, 2025 (6 days before fight)

Brad Tavares

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.

win inside the distance decision no action might be a Mir sharp play here

"Brad tovares is going to be the pick this actually could be an entertaining fight though."

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 1, 2025 (4 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

second round submission

"give me Gerald mirart Gerald mirart second round submission"

DFS by the Numbers

Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

"I'm fine with it. Okay. Okay. Yeah."

MMA Vivisection

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

submission in round 2 or 3

"I think mirart can push a pace and really get the grappling going in the first and second round eventually leading to a classic mirart submission either in round one or sorry in round two or round three."

MMA Lock of the Night

The MMA Guru Expert Lean picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)

Brad Tavares

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.

Brad Tavares by decision

"I am going to lean towards Brad Savvarez here. And I'm going to take him to win this fight by decision as the fight goes on."

THE MMA GURU

Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

Tavares opened -257, now -202; Meerschaert opened +206, now +191. Zane finds the line weird given Tavares's recent losses.

"You still got to pick Mirchardt, right? Yeah, you have to pick me a shirt. I can't pick Brad Tavares against anyone anymore."

MMA Vivisection

LOSS vs Reinier de Ridder

Submission (arm-triangle choke) R3 1:44 · UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates · Nov 09, 2024

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
1	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
2	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
3	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
1	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
2	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
3	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 Sherdog

Gerald Meerschaert vs. Reinier de Ridder
BETTING 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 Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 3, 2024 (6 days before fight)

Reinier de Ridder

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.

probably will bet on de Ridder

"reer is going to be the pick I think the UFC matched him up this way on purpose so yeah probably going to bet on him"

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Nov 7, 2024 (2 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

Meerschaert by submission, round 3

"I'll take mirart I'll say third round submission for mirart"

DFS by the Numbers

Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Reinier de Ridder

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.

"I think he passes it but it's not a walk in the park still a tough fight but I think he should go out there and excel with his skill set."

Bookie Beatdown

Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2024 (2 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

Odds too wide; de Ridder should not be such a heavy favorite.

"I'm taking Mirchard too."

MMA Vivisection

Daniel Vreeland Expert Hesitant picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

Meerschaert by late finish

"I'm going with GM3 via late finish."

Half the Battle

Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Nov 5, 2024 (4 days before fight)

Reinier de Ridder

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.

"I'll pick the r but honestly I'm considering a bet on gm3"

Lucrative MMA

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 8, 2024 (1 day before fight)

Reinier de Ridder

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.

wins by finish

"I believe as the riters grapple heavy approach wears on him he should be able to open up a submission opportunity or a ground and pound opportunity which he should be able to get and get his hand raised in …"

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Reinier de Ridder

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.

"I'm not too excited about laying minus 278 on a guy who hasn't been tested in the UFC yet but he's obviously been in some big fights so he'll be my pick as well."

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Reinier de Ridder

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.

TKO via knees to the body, round 2 or 3

"I'm going to go with Raina darid here I may regret this but um M sharts wins Edmund shabazian fumbles everything can't go cardio rounds"

THE MMA GURU

Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2024 (2 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

Meerschaert wins by decision at +800; fight goes the distance at +150.

"I'm taking Mirchard for sure."

MMA Vivisection

WIN vs Edmen Shahbazyan

Submission (arm-triangle choke) R2 4:12 · UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Borralho · Aug 24, 2024

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	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Ctrl
1	Gerald Meerschaert	22 of 50	44%	22 of 50	0 of 0	---	0	0:03
1	Edmen Shahbazyan	14 of 33	42%	16 of 35	0 of 1	0%	0	0:00
2	Gerald Meerschaert	26 of 63	41%	26 of 63	0 of 0	---	0	2:18
2	Edmen Shahbazyan	7 of 11	63%	15 of 19	1 of 5	20%	1	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
1	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
2	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 Sherdog

Gerald Meerschaert vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
BETTING 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 Bodetti Expert Lean picked Aug 18, 2024 (6 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

plus 3.5 points (decision win)

"I'm picking him Jared Mard is going to be the pick and this is another great plus three and a half bet spot"

We Want Picks

Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 20, 2024 (4 days before fight)

Gerald 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.

Gerald Meerschaert by submission (round 3)

"I'm going take a gm3 shot and that's rare for me but I'm gonna take a gm3 shot"

Bookie Beatdown

Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Aug 22, 2024 (2 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

submission or ground-and-pound TKO in round 2 or 3

"I'll go Gerald mirar for the upset"

Half the Battle

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Edmen Shahbazyan

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.

Shahbazyan by KO

"I'm gonna take shabazian and I'm gonna take shabazian by KO I think he's better I think Mard slow give me shabazian by KO"

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Aug 20, 2024 (4 days before fight)

Edmen Shahbazyan

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.

Edmen Shahbazyan by KO/TKO (round 1)

"I would way rather BET live wait for Shian to fall off if I missed Theus 170 on Edmond shabazian by KO which I think is the most likely outcome"

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Edmen Shahbazyan

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.

first round KO

"I think he's way more talented on the feet than Gerald and I actually think this is actually recipe for a first round KO for Edmund shabazian"

THE MMA GURU

WIN vs Bryan Barberena

Submission R2 4:23 · UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura · Mar 16, 2024

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	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Ctrl
1	Gerald Meerschaert	7 of 13	53%	12 of 18	2 of 4	50%	0	2:15
1	Bryan Barberena	10 of 25	40%	13 of 28	0 of 0	---	0	0:03
2	Gerald Meerschaert	4 of 4	100%	18 of 18	1 of 3	33%	2	2:48
2	Bryan Barberena	2 of 12	16%	12 of 22	0 of 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
1	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
2	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 Sherdog

Bryan Barberena vs. Gerald Meerschaert
BETTING 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 Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2024 (5 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

"mir's going to be the pick but you cannot trust this guy let alone as a two to one favorite but I do like meard here just because his skills play into barbar's skill Gap"

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

by second round submission

"I'm going to take mirart here I'm going to take him to win this fight by second round submission"

DFS by the Numbers

Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

"Size matters man and Brian Barberena is giving up so much that it's got to be Gerald for me."

Bookie Beatdown

Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

Meerschaert by submission in round 2 or 3

"I'm going to pick Gerald M up to get the submission win here."

Lucrative MMA

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2024 (1 day before fight)

Bryan Barberena

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.

knockout in round 3

"I believe that we see barbarena get his hand raised in the third round by knockout"

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Mar 13, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

"Part of me wants to take that dog shot on Brian Barberena... but his body is not responding."

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

submission in the third round

"I'm going to go with Gerald mirot High test Alpha version of Jake Gyllenhaal he gets it done by submission in the third round."

THE MMA GURU

LOSS vs Andre Petroski

Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 292: Sterling vs. O'Malley · Aug 19, 2023

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 %	Ctrl
1	Andre Petroski	0	13 of 42	30%	13 of 42	1 of 1	100%	0:23
1	Gerald Meerschaert	0	11 of 30	36%	11 of 30	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Andre Petroski	1	29 of 61	47%	31 of 63	0 of 3	0%	0:36
2	Gerald Meerschaert	0	23 of 54	42%	23 of 54	0 of 2	0%	0:00
3	Andre Petroski	0	15 of 29	51%	23 of 38	1 of 1	100%	1:07
3	Gerald Meerschaert	0	42 of 65	64%	58 of 82	1 of 1	100%	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
1	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
2	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
3	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 Sherdog

Gerald Meerschaert vs. Andre Petroski
BETTING 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 Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 13, 2023 (6 days before fight)

Andre Petroski

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.

Parlay with Natália Silva at -133

"Andre petrovski should win this fight right he's a big time favorite for a reason... I do have Andre petrovski parlayed with Natalia Silva and I got that at minus 133."

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 12, 2023 (7 days before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

win by submission, round 3

"I'm actually gonna pick a pretty big dog here and Joe muirshire... third round submission as always"

DFS by the Numbers

Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2023 (4 days before fight)

Andre Petroski

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.

live bet Meerschaert if fight goes late

"Andre petrovski probably just knocks out jeremere Shard he's a much better wrestler if the fight hits the ground I think he stays out of Harm's Way"

Bookie Beatdown

Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Aug 17, 2023 (2 days before fight)

Andre Petroski

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.

Petroski KO1 plus 900; Meerschaert submission round 2 and 3

"I'm picking petrovski here but usually when I pick against Mir Shard that's when he wins"

Half the Battle

Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Aug 18, 2023 (1 day before fight)

Gerald Meerschaert

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.

live bet after round one

"I'm kind of leaning on the side that gm3 wins this fight"

Lucrative MMA

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2023 (4 days before fight)

Andre Petroski

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.

fight doesn't go to decision

"I'm going to lean with the ladder here and say that petrovsky gets this done by the second round"

MMA Lock of the Night

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2023 (5 days before fight)

Andre Petroski

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.

TKO by ground and pound or decision

"Andre petrovsky is gonna out grapple him and probably submit him"

THE MMA GURU

View all 26 fights

Expert Picks (10)

Angelo Bodetti Expert Lock picked Apr 26, 2026 (6 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

No prop bets mentioned; odds noted as -800.

"Jacob Malcoun is a very expensive minus 800. I think that's a discount off what it should actually be."

We Want Picks

Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2026 (2 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

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.

TKO prop

"Malcoun wins. Malcoun wins easy, but you got to chase a prop. And I do take the knockout."

Bookie Beatdown

Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked May 1, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

"Yeah, I you know, even when Mirchard was improving he was relying on the opponents being bad and clueless to get wins."

MMA Vivisection

Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Apr 29, 2026 (3 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

"I got Jacob Malcun to come out here and knock out GM3 in the first round."

Half the Battle

Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Confident picked May 1, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Over 1.5 rounds at 1.64 (small bet)

"I don't really see any path to victory for Meerschaert other than hitting a crazy Hail Mary submission... I do quite like the over 1.5 rounds on this."

Diary of a Pro Gambler

Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Apr 26, 2026 (6 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

"I got Jacob Malcoun comfortably winning this fight... I'll take him to win, I guess, TKO."

Lucrative MMA

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 28, 2026 (4 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

Inside the distance

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2026 (2 days before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

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.

KO prop

"I'm just probably going the Malccom by KO prop."

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 1, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

odds comment: -1100 favorite, should be -400

"Jacob Malkoun is a minus 1,100 favorite and I don't think he should be that big of a favorite first of all, but Malkoun's pretty good."

THE MMA GURU

Zane Simon Expert Confident picked May 1, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Jacob Malkoun

"So Malcolm is just going to chew him up. Yeah, it is. It is truly sad because Gerald Marshard is one of the only guys in the entire UFC who I think seems like a actually chill dude."

MMA Vivisection

Jacob Malkoun

Gerald Meerschaert

Career Averages - Jacob Malkoun

Career Averages - Gerald Meerschaert

Jacob Malkoun

Gerald Meerschaert

Jacob Malkoun - Fight History

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