Apr 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Gerald Meerschaert (red gloves) reacts after fighting Joe Pyfer (blue gloves) during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

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UFC 319 Prediction and Betting Odds – Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk Preview, Predictions And MMA Betting Odds

Apr 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Gerald Meerschaert (red gloves) reacts after fighting Joe Pyfer (blue gloves) during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

Gerald Meerschaert has spent nearly a decade grinding through UFC wars. The 37 year old submission specialist has seen it all: highlight-reel finishes, crushing defeats, and everything in between. His 12-11 UFC record tells the story of a fighter who’s been through the meat grinder and somehow keeps coming back for more.

Standing across from him at UFC 319 will be Michal Oleksiejczuk, a Polish striker who’s been on his own rollercoaster ride since joining the UFC in 2017. The 30 year old has dealt with his share of ups and downs, posting an 8-7-0-1 record. Both men desperately need a win to stay relevant in a division that’s constantly churning out new contenders. This fight represents more than just another prelim bout. It’s about proving you still belong at the highest level of MMA.

Gerald Meerschaert vs Michal Oleksiejczuk Preview

Meerschaert brings his southpaw stance and a dangerous ground game. His 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes shows he’s always hunting for the finish once the fight hits the mat. Standing 6’1″ with a 77 inch reach, he uses his length well but only lands 3.05 significant strikes per minute with 45% accuracy. His takedown success rate sits at 31%, which isn’t spectacular but becomes dangerous when he does get you down.

Oleksiejczuk throws volume with 5.27 significant strikes landed per minute at 51% accuracy. His defensive striking numbers look better too, absorbing 4.51 strikes per minute while defending 59% of what comes his way. At 6’0″ with a 74 inch reach, he gives up some length to Meerschaert but makes up for it with superior hand speed and power. His takedown defense at 48% isn’t elite, but he attempts 1.05 takedowns per fight himself, showing he’s comfortable mixing things up.

Gerald Meerschaert vs Michal Oleksiejczuk MMA Betting Odds

According to FanDuel, Michal Oleksiejczuk is a solid favorite at -210. Meanwhile Gerald Meerschaert comes back as a +180 underdog. These odds suggest the betting public believes in the Polish striker’s ability to keep this fight standing and pick apart the veteran.

The odds for the fight going the distance have also come out. The probability of the fight ending before the final bell is higher and the odds (-460) reflect that. The odds for the fight seeing the judges scorecards stand at +320

Gerald Meerschaert vs Michal Oleksiejczuk Predictions And Picks

This fight comes down to whether Meerschaert can survive the early storm and drag Oleksiejczuk into deep waters. The Polish striker looked sharp in his last outing, but he’s also shown vulnerability when fights get messy and physical. His move to train with the Fighting Nerds in Brazil has clearly helped his ground game, but old habits die hard in high pressure situations.

Meerschaert’s best chance involves weathering the initial striking exchanges and finding his way to clinch positions where he can work for takedowns. His submission game remains elite, and Oleksiejczuk’s tendency to get aggressive could create scrambling opportunities. The veteran’s experience in these types of must-win situations shouldn’t be overlooked either.

If we bet on the fight, we are going with Michal Oleksiejczuk to win via KO/TKO.

(All odds taken from FanDuel. Bet on the most up-to-date MMA odds, lines, and spreads with FanDuel Sportsbook)

(Image Credit: Rich Storry – Imagn Images)

Gerald Meerschaert

Michal Oleksiejczuk

UFC 319

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!