The man on the losing end of Khamzat Chimaev’s quickest-ever fight is expecting to hear ‘and still’ in the UFC 319 main event.
Chimaev is currently completing his final preparations and training for his first taste of championship action on MMA’s biggest stage, as he gears up to challenge for the middleweight title on August 16.
Headlining UFC 319, Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis in pursuit of a feat that both Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya have failed to accomplish since the South African rose to the top with an undefeated run inside the Octagon.
‘Borz’, too, has yet to taste defeat in the UFC. And while many are predicting that to remain the case en route to his title crowning at United Center, one of the challenger’s former foes thinks differently.
Gerald Meerschaert expects ex-opponent Khamzat Chimaev to finally lose at UFC 319
Chimaev has an abundance of dominant performances on his UFC record, three of which came within his first three months in the promotion. After two wins in the space of just 10 days on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, the Chechen star competed on United States soil for the very first time at UFC Vegas 11, an event headlined by Colby Covington’s TKO win over Tyron Woodley.
‘Borz’ stole the headlines owing to his performance against Gerald Meerschaert, who holds the most finishes in UFC middleweight history. The American did not get a chance to showcase his renowned grappling on the night, with Chimaev knocking Meerschaert out with one punch after just 17 seconds.
Despite his experience sharing the cage with the UFC 319 challenger, though, ‘GM3’ recently backed Du Plessis to keep hold of the title during an interview with Fight Bananas.
“My prediction, I honestly think it’s gonna be Dricus,” Meerschaert said.
“I’m not gonna be shocked if Khamzat wins, you know what I’m saying? But if I had to put a percentage on it, I would say like 60, 70 percent Dricus.
“I think he’s gonna be too big and too physical for Khamzat to catch in those first couple of rounds,” Meerschaert continued. “If he does, that is amazing, that is nuts, and more power to him.
“But personally, I think Dricus, his movement, his unique fighting style is gonna give Khamzat problems.”
Gerald Meerschaert will feature on Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 319 undercard
Meerschaert will likely get a close look at his former rival come fight week in Chicago. He is also set to return to action as part of the UFC 319 event.
‘GM3’ will be among those setting the stage for Chimaev and Du Plessis’ title headliner later in the night, as he faces off against Michal Oleksiejczuk on a preliminary card that will also feature King Green, Chase Hooper, and a former UFC champion in Jessica Andrade.
The bout will be a key one for the 37-year-old middleweight veteran. Meerschaert lost to a debuting Reinier de Ridder in November 2024 before a decision defeat to Brad Tavares this past April sent him on a two-fight losing skid.
Having never lost three fights consecutively across a 56-fight pro career, the UFC 319 assignment could be crucial for Meerschaert’s continued presence inside the Octagon.
