Gerald "GM3" Meerschaert brings his wealth of experience and exceptional submission skills to the Octagon, while Reinier "The Dutch Knight" de Ridder, a formidable grappler with a perfect record in Asia, steps in with his well-rounded skill set and undefeated streak. This matchup promises to be an intriguing clash of styles—Meerschaert's vast UFC experience against de Ridder's undefeated record and exceptional grappling. Will GM3’s veteran savvy prevail, or will de Ridder’s perfect record remain intact? Let’s dive into the details.

Gerald Meerschaert (37-17-0)

Gerald Meerschaert is a submission specialist with 29 of his 37 wins coming by way of submission. He has competed in the UFC since 2016 and is known for his resilience and ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with his grappling. Meerschaert is coming off a dominant win over Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC on ESPN 62, securing a submission in the second round. However, his last few years have been mixed, with notable losses to high-caliber fighters such as Andre Petroski and Joe Pyfer. To secure a victory against de Ridder, Meerschaert will need to use his experience and solid ground game, as well as avoid de Ridder’s striking.

Gerald Meerschaert – Last Five Fights:

* Win vs. Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC on ESPN 62 (Aug 2024) – Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
* Win vs. Bryan Barberena at UFC Fight Night 239 (Mar 2024) – Technical Submission (Face Crank)
* Loss vs. Andre Petroski at UFC 292 (Aug 2023) – Decision (Split)
* Loss vs. Joe Pyfer at UFC 287 (Apr 2023) – TKO (Punches)
* Win vs. Bruno Silva at UFC on ESPN 41 (Aug 2022) – Submission (Guillotine Choke)

Reinier de Ridder (17-2-0)

Reinier de Ridder was a two-division champion in ONE Championship, where his grappling and conditioning where his primary weapons. With an impressive mix of submissions and striking, de Ridder has been a dominant force, but his UFC debut will certainly be his biggest challenge to date. De Ridder’s ability to control the pace and pressure his opponents with relentless takedowns and submission attempts will be key against a seasoned submission artist like Meerschaert. De Ridder will need to avoid getting caught in a submission while looking to control Meerschaert with his grappling and cardio.

Reinier de Ridder - Last Five Fights

* Win vs. Magomedmurad Khasaev at UAE Warriors 51 (Jul 27, 2024) - TKO (Punches)
* Loss vs. Anatoly Malykhin at ONE Championship - ONE 166: Qatar (Mar 1, 2024) - TKO (Retirement)
* Loss vs. Anatoly Malykhin at ONE Championship - ONE on Prime Video 5: De Ridder vs. Malykhin (Dec 2, 2022) - TKO (Punches)
* Win vs. Vitaly Bigdash at ONE Championship - ONE 159 (Jul 22, 2022) - Technical Submission (Inverted Triangle Choke)
* Win vs. Kiamrian Abbasov at ONE Championship - Full Circle (Feb 25, 2022) - Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)

Prediction:

This fight is a classic grappler vs. grappler match. Meerschaert’s experience in the UFC and superior submission skills make him a dangerous opponent, but de Ridder’s relentless pace and well-rounded grappling could be the difference. While Meerschaert is dangerous in scrambles, de Ridder's ability to dictate the action could lead to a dominant performance. Expect de Ridder to use his cardio and pressure to outwork Meerschaert and secure a submission victory in the later rounds.

Prediction: Reinier de Ridder wins by submission in Round 3.