MMA Match Preview: Gerald Meerschaert (7-19) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (20-9)

Fight Details

Attribute	Info
Event	UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev
Matchup	Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk
Division	Middleweight (185 lbs)
Date	Saturday, August 16, 2025
Venue	United Center, Chicago, IL
Broadcast	ESPN+, UFC Fight Pass
Bout Placement	Preliminary Card

Fighter Breakdown

Gerald “GM3” Meerschaert

Record: 37–19

Age: 37

Height/Reach: 6’1″ / 77″

Style: Submission specialist with veteran savvy

Key Traits:

Holds the most submission wins in UFC middleweight history

Durable and experienced against elite grapplers and strikers

Relies on pressure, clinch work, and opportunistic grappling

Michał “Hussar” Oleksiejczuk

Record: 20–9

Age: 30

Height/Reach: 6’0″ / 74″

Style: Explosive striker with fast hands and KO power

Key Traits:

Known for early-round finishes

Struggles with defensive grappling and submission defense

Trains out of Ankos MMA in Poland

Tactical Preview

Meerschaert’s Path to Victory:

Survive early flurries and drag Oleksiejczuk into deep waters

Initiate clinch and takedown sequences

Hunt for submissions in scrambles and transitions

Oleksiejczuk’s Path to Victory:

Start fast and target Meerschaert’s body

Avoid grappling exchanges and keep fight standing

Use angles and combinations to overwhelm early

Rankings & Implications

Fighter	Middleweight Rank (Global)
Gerald Meerschaert	#30
Michał Oleksiejczuk	#33

A win for Meerschaert keeps him relevant as a gatekeeper to the top 25

A win for Oleksiejczuk could earn him a matchup with a ranked grappler