← UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates
Jacob Malkoun vs Gerald Meerschaert
UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates · 2026-05-02
80.1%
Model
85.7%
Market
1.12
Odds
-5.6
Edge (pp)
established · 8 UFC fightsestablished · 8 fights
Style Matchup
established · 25 UFC fightsestablished · 25 fights
STRIKING
P69
Striking Initiative
P17
P31
Volume
P24
P72
Striking Efficiency
P56
P24
Range Sniper
P47
P19
Kickboxing
P63
P8
Clinch Striking
P49
P37
Defensive Striking
P40
GRAPPLING / WRESTLING
P97
Wrestling
P63
P99
Pressure Wrestling
P82
P100
Top Control
P57
P22
Submission
P100
P45
Anti-Wrestling
P77
P22
Grappling Defense
P17
P33
Scrambler
P94
DAMAGE / FINISHING
P26
Power
P16
P4
Finisher
P100
P43
Damage Resistance
P15
· style, not skillFIGHT DYNAMICS· style, not skill
P82
Fast Starter
P19
P99
Pace
P44
P11
Late Fighter
P63
GLOBAL
P89
Versatility
P72
Fighter profiles as of this fight · percentiles vs established UFC fighters (8+ fights) at that date.
Striking
MalkounMeerschaert
4.55Landed / min3.01
2.36Absorbed / min3.52
58%Accuracy45%
55%Defense53%
0.18KD / 150.22
0.18KD abs / 150.51
Grappling / Wrestling
MalkounMeerschaert
5.81TD / 151.82
14.26TD att / 155.97
41%TD accuracy30%
33%TD defense43%
7:57Control / 153:17
0.88Sub att / 151.38
Targets
MalkounMeerschaert
Head93%|73%
Body6%|17%
Leg1%|10%
Position
MalkounMeerschaert
Distance66%|80%
Clinch4%|11%
Ground30%|9%
Ranking evolution Malkoun Meerschaert
AI Matchup Analysis
Generated by an LLM from structured matchup data. It does not determine the model's win probability.
Jacob Malkoun
Malkoun's game is built around getting the fight to the mat and holding dominant top position once there. His striking has been trending upward lately, both in output and in how much he's controlling exchanges on the feet, and he's been absorbing less damage recently. He rides a two-fight win streak over regional opposition and has gone 3/5 in his last UFC appearances.
Gerald Meerschaert
Meerschaert carries real finishing ability, the kind that can end a fight at any moment without needing the scorecards. A southpaw, he owns a 10cm reach and height advantage here, giving him length to work behind. His deep 37-21 overall record speaks to volume of experience, though he's gone 1/5 in his last five UFC outings.
Matchup Read
The early rounds favor Malkoun's path to close distance, change levels and grind from top position, where his control takes away Meerschaert's room to operate. The longer any exchange stays standing or the fight hits the mat loosely, the more Meerschaert's finishing threat becomes the deciding factor, since he can turn a single opening or scramble into a stoppage from almost anywhere. Length and the stance mismatch shape the range Malkoun must fight through to get inside.
What to Watch
- Grappling: whether Malkoun can consistently close the southpaw's distance, enter on his level changes and establish top control.
- Danger moments: whether Meerschaert can threaten a finish off his back or in transitions before Malkoun settles into position.
- Range: how Malkoun handles the 10cm reach gap getting inside across three rounds.