The UFC middleweight division has always been synonymous with Anderson Silva, the former champion known for his incredible finishing abilities. However, at UFC on ESPN 62 in Las Vegas, Gerald Meerschaert made history by surpassing Silva for the most finishes in UFC middleweight history with 12. This achievement is a significant milestone for the 36-year-old UFC veteran who has been competing in the promotion since 2016.
Despite breaking a record held by a legend like Anderson Silva, Meerschaert remains humble about his accomplishment. In a post-fight interview, he mentioned that he doesn’t think about it much and prefers to focus on one fight at a time. Meerschaert acknowledged that having his name mentioned alongside Silva or Demian Maia is cool, but he still has a lot of fights left in him. The fighter stated that he will only truly appreciate this milestone once he has retired from the sport and can look back on his career.
During his fight against Edmen Shahbazyan, Meerschaert faced a tough challenge in the second round when he was dropped and faced a barrage of punches from his opponent. Despite being in a dangerous position, Meerschaert remained composed and believed that Shahbazyan would tire himself out with the onslaught. This strategy paid off as Meerschaert was able to secure an arm-triangle choke for the submission victory at 4:12 of Round 2.
When reflecting on his performance, Meerschaert admitted that it was not his cleanest fight but emphasized the importance of overcoming adversity in the octagon. He mentioned that getting punched in the face is part of the job, and as long as he is conscious, he believes he has a chance to win. The fighter’s resilience and ability to weather the storm in difficult situations have been key to his success in the UFC.
As Gerald Meerschaert continues his journey in the UFC middleweight division, he remains focused on his upcoming challenges and improvements as a fighter. Breaking records and achieving milestones are significant accomplishments, but Meerschaert understands that consistency and hard work are essential to sustaining success in a competitive sport like mixed martial arts. With his eyes set on future fights and opportunities, Meerschaert is determined to leave a lasting legacy in the UFC middleweight division.