Gerald Meerschaert is back in action this weekend at UFC Fight Night Philadelphia, battling Kevin Holland in a middleweight division attraction.
The middleweight contender has been a very busy person as of late, which includes a recent trip to corner fighters at Bellator 218, while still finding time to prepare for UFC Fight Night Philadelphia.
“When I got the call (to fight Holland), I was helping Anthony (Pettis) get ready (for UFC Nashville). Me and Biggie (Mike Rhodes) were switching out and sparring with him, getting him ready for Wonderboy (Stephen Thompson). Then obviously I kind of shifted my focus more towards what I wanted to do and I started working with Belal Muhammad a lot, so he was helping me get ready. I was also helping him, he’s got a fight coming up in April. I was supposed to leave earlier for the Bellator (218) fight, but obviously I’m fighting, so I had to stay back and make sure I can train as much as possible. So I flew myself out there on Friday, cornered Emmanuel Sanchez and Jordan Newman and then I flew back Saturday. I got a pad session in with coach cush yesterday and now I’m gonna leave on Tuesday (for UFC Philadelphia),” says Meerschaert in an exclusive interview with Fightful’s James Lynch.
Meerschaert is looking to get back in the win column on Saturday Night, as his last bout was a loss to Jack Hermansson at UFC On Fox 31.
Former pro wrestler turned pro MMA fighter CM Punk is a teammate of Meerschaert’s and Meerschaert believes Punk will fight again.
“I think he might fight again, I think it’d be really hard to put as much time and effort into this as he has to not at least get a win and get your hand raised, so I think before it’s all said and done…he’ll probably fight one or two more times. For right now, I don’t think its super close, but he’s still in the gym and he’s working on his craft,” says Meerschaert.
UFC Fight Night Philadelphia takes place on Saturday, March 30 from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with Edson Barboza and Justin Gaethje headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on ESPN.
