Gerald Meerschaert to Make Octagon Debut vs. Joe Gigliotti at UFC Fight Night Albany

Gerald Meerschaert has replaced the injured Oluwale Bamgbose and will face Joe Gigliotti at UFC Fight Night 102 in Albany, N.Y., on Dec. 9.

Promotion officials recently announced the change. UFC Fight Night takes place at the Times Union Center and is headlined by a heavyweight duel between Derrick Lewis and Shamil Abdurakhimov. The card airs in its entirety on UFC Fight Pass.

A 32-fight veteran, Meerschaert enters his first promotional foray on a five-bout winning streak. “The Machine” last appeared at Resurrection Alliance Fighting 45, where he submitted Chase Waldon in the opening stanza. The Roufusport representative is 24-8 over the course of his career, including a notable win over current UFC talent Sam Alvey.

Gigliotti, meanwhile, suffered his first defeat in his Octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 92, dropping a unanimous verdict against Trevor Smith in Salt Lake City. Prior to that, the 23-year-old Arizonan was undefeated in seven professional outings.