Julius Walker Faces Gerald Meerschaert at UFC Vegas 122

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Julius Walker returns to the Octagon this Saturday to face veteran grappler Gerald Meerschaert at UFC Vegas 122, looking to snap back from his most recent setback with a new training camp behind him.

Walker made the move to Xtreme Couture shortly before his last fight in Azerbaijan, a trip that didn't produce the result he wanted inside the cage but gave him his first extended look at life with a new team. He's treating that experience as the foundation for this weekend's fight rather than a letdown to shake off.

Why Walker Likes This Matchup

Walker sees real opportunity in drawing Meerschaert, a well-known name on the UFC roster with a long track record on the ground. "The matchup with Meerschaert in general, there's a lot of things to like about it. For one, he's got a solid name. In terms of the people that I could realistically be matched up with, he's one of the more well-known ones," Walker said. He's also banking on physical tools tipping the fight his way. "I feel I've got some physical advantages, I'm definitely gonna be a little bit bigger, younger, probably more athletic. So I think that those are all things that bode well in my favor."

A Fast Turnaround Camp

Walker is fighting on a notably quick turnaround, less than four months removed from his last outing, and he credits the stability of his new camp for making that possible. "It's nice because then this time I got to come back out and I had only been gone for five or six weeks," Walker said. "I kind of knew what my routine was gonna look like and I was able to jump into camp a little bit more seamlessly." He described the Azerbaijan trip itself as valuable regardless of the outcome, saying the camp alone made it worthwhile because of how much he grew heading into his first run away from home.

Betting Angle

Meerschaert's reputation as a dangerous submission threat means Walker will need to respect the grappling exchanges early, even as the bigger, younger fighter in the cage. Bettors weighing this one should watch where the line settles as fight week progresses. A quick Walker finish by strikes would validate the athleticism and size edge he's leaning on, while a fight that hits the mat for extended stretches favors Meerschaert's experience against less seasoned grapplers. Given Walker is still just two fights into his Xtreme Couture tenure, there's an argument for caution on his side of the number until he shows that growth translates to a finished product on fight night.

UFC Vegas 122 airs from the UFC Apex with the card starting at 5 p.m. ET on Paramount+.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Julius Walker fighting at UFC Vegas 122?

Julius Walker is scheduled to fight veteran grappler Gerald Meerschaert at UFC Vegas 122, held at the UFC Apex.

What training camp is Julius Walker with for UFC Vegas 122?

Julius Walker joined Xtreme Couture shortly before his previous fight in Azerbaijan and is using that same camp heading into his bout with Gerald Meerschaert.