Meerschaert vs Barberena

Who won Meerschaert vs Barberena?

Gerald Meerschaert beat Bryan Barberena by submission in the 2nd round during the main card of UFC Fight Night, on Saturday 16th March 2024 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 3 rounds in the Middleweight division, which meant the weight limit was 185 pounds (13.2 stone or 83.9 KG).

Meerschaert vs Barberena stats

Gerald Meerschaert stepped into the octagon with a record of 35 wins, 17 losses and 0 draws, 6 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 27 by submission.

Bryan Barberena made his way to the cage with a record of 18 wins, 11 losses and 0 draws, 11 of those wins coming by knock out and 2 by submission.

This was Gerald Meerschaert's 23rd fight in the UFC, having made his debut for the promotion in 2016.

Gerald Meerschaert's UFC record stood at 12-11-0, while Bryan Barberena's came in at 9-10-0.

The stats suggested Barberena had a massive power advantage over Meerschaert, boasting a 61% knock out percentage over Meerschaert's 17%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Meerschaert had a massive advantage over Barberena, boasting a 77% submission rate over Barberena's 11%.

Gerald Meerschaert was the older man by 2 years, at 37 years old.

Meerschaert had a height advantage of 1 inch over Barberena. That also extended to a 6-inch reach advantage.

Meerschaert was the more experienced professional fighter, having had 23 more fights, and made his debut in 2007, 2 years and 8 months earlier than Barberena, whose first professional fight was in 2009. He had fought 30 more professional rounds, 103 to Barberena's 73.

Meerschaert vs Barberena form

Gerald Meerschaert had beaten 2 of his last 5 opponents.

In his last fight before this contest, he had lost to Andre Petroski at UFC 292 on 19th August 2023 by split decision in their 3 round contest at TD Garden, Boston, United States.

Previous to that, he had been beaten by Joseph Pyfer at UFC 287 on 8th April 2023 by knockout in the 1st round at Miami-Dade Arena, Miami.

Going into that contest, he had won against Bruno Silva at UFC Fight Night: Vera vs. Cruz on 13th August 2022 by submission in the 3rd round at Pechanga Arena, San Diego.

Before that, he had been defeated by Krzysztof Jotko at UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Vera on 30th April 2022 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

He had beaten Dustin Stoltzfus at UFC Fight Night on 18th December 2021 by submission in the 3rd round.

Barberena had beaten 3 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 1 of them, going the distance twice.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had lost to Rafael dos Anjos at UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Holland on 3rd December 2022 by submission in the 2nd round at Amway Center, Orlando, United States.

Previous to that, he had defeated Robbie Lawler at UFC 276 on 2nd July 2022 by knockout in the 2nd round at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.

Going into that contest, he was victorious against Matt Brown at UFC Fight Night Columbus on 26th March 2022 by split decision in their 3 round contest at Nationwide Arena, Columbus.

Before that, he had won against Darian Weeks at UFC Fight Night on 4th December 2021 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

He had been beaten by Jason Witt at UFC Vegas 33 on 31st July 2021 by majority decision in their 3 round contest at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Gerald Meerschaert had been fighting more than Bryan Barberena.

Going to this contest, Gerald Meerschaert had last fought 1 year, 7 months and 30 days ago, while Bryan Barberena's last outing had been 2 years, 4 months and 15 days ago.

Meerschaert's last 5 fights had come over a period of 3 years and 4 months, meaning he had been fighting on average every 8 months. In those fights, he fought a total of 13 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.6 rounds on average.

Barberena's last 5 fights had come over a period of 3 years, 8 months and 18 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 8 months and 28 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 13 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.6 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Meerschaert vs Barberena?

Gerald Meerschaert was a 2/5 (-250) favourite going into the contest, while Bryan Barberena made his way into the ring at 2/1 (+200) with oddsmakers.