Gerald Meerschaert used his superior ground game to find a second round rear-naked choke submission finish against Bryan Barberena tonight at UFC Fight Night 239.
Round One:
Calf kick for Meerschaert. Inside leg kick from Barberena. Meerschaert taking the center of the octagon at this stage.
Barberena comes up short with a couple of punches on the outside. Inside leg kick from him and just misses on a punch behind it.
Meerschaert steps in and lands a punch. Another kick lands for Barberena. Meerschaert picks his moment to drive in for his first takedown attempt of the night. He’s almost got him down, but Barberena is making him work for it.
Meerschaert does complete the takedown and is trying to take the back, but Barberena presses his back against the cage and attempts to stand.
Barberena does get back up now and back to striking range. He lands a one-two. Now another punch and Meerschaert goes to the mat shortly afterwards, but seems ok.
Meerschaert back up. He pushes forward and now is able to land another takedown. Meerschaert in half-guard. He starts thinking about a kimura submission, moves to side control and continues to try to work the submission attempt.
For a moment Meerschaert gives up on the kimura, but then is back looking for it again. Barberena has his back against the cage again and wants to stand, but Meerschaert is threatening with a potential guillotine choke now.
10 seconds of the round remaining and Barberena battles back to his feet. He’s looking to land something big, but Meerschaert uses head movement to avoid that and retreats to a safe distance.
Round Two:
Meerschaert pressuring again to start and goes into a takedown attempt against the cage. Barberena able to fend off that one and get back to striking.
A couple of punches from Barberena. Meerschaert in on a single-leg, but Barberena gets away. Barberena feeling out with the jab. Meerschaert lands his jab. He connects with it again. Now a left hand as Barberena was trying to let his hands go.
Now a successful takedown from Meerschaert close to the center of the Octagon. Meerschaert moves to half-guard.
Barberena scooting over towards the cage, but Meerschaert is moving around towards his back and has a hook in. Now another hook in as Barberena stands with Meerschaert latched to his back.
Barberena goes back down to his knees. Meerschaert able to sink in the rear-naked choke now and it looks tight. He’s not getting out of this and gradually goes to sleep – Meerschaert wins by rear-naked choke submission at 4.23mins of the second round.
