On a historic night at UFC Vegas 96, Gerald Meerschaert did what many thought was impossible. Submitting Edmain Shahbazyan in the second round, Meerschart not only scored an impressive victory but also surpassed Anderson Silva’s legendary middleweight submission record an achievement that resonated throughout the MMA community, with fighters and fans paying tribute to Meerschart’s remarkable accomplishment.
Battle of the Styles: Grappler vs. Grappler. Striker
Going into the fight, Meerschart looked like he did the fighting. An accomplished grappler, he was up against Shahbazyan, a hard-hitting professional striker. In the first round, Shahbazyan delivered a series of jabs and punches that momentarily stunned Meerschart. Shahbazyan knew that allowing Meershart to find his rhythm on the ground could be dangerous. Determined to stay in the fight, “The Golden Boy” did his best to avoid a takedown.
But Meerschart’s resilience was on full display. He saved Shahbazyan’s early reach and weathered the storm with impressive defence. As the battle went on, it became clear that Meerschart’s strategy was there—it would pay off in the second round.
Record-Breaking Submissions
Shahbazyan was visibly starting to tire early in the second round. His punches lacked the precision and power they had in the first round, and Meerschart took advantage. With a perfectly executed takedown, he brought Shahbaz down and immediately transitioned into an arm triangle choke. He had been hit hard and despite Shahbazyan’s best efforts to escape, the pain became unbearable. Within moments, Shahbaz was forced to score, giving Meerschert the victory and writing his name in the history books.
This submission marked Meerschaert’s 13th in the middleweight division, officially breaking Anderson Silva’s long-term record of 12. The significance of this achievement cannot be overstated Anderson Silva is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history in, beyond his record and Meerschaert skills , tenacity, his It is a testament to craftsmanship and dedication.
Reactions from the MMA community
The MMA world reacted immediately to Meerschart’s milestone. Reigning middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis, who watched the fight closely, had nothing but praise for Meerschart for his great improvement Known for his grappling skills, du Plessis was impressed with the technical brilliance he brought to his self-consciousness in particular.
Former dual heavyweight champion Henry Cejudo also weighed in, discussing the intricacies of the arm triangle choke and revealing how Meerschart’s technique is textbook perfect Cejudo’s analysis highlighted the level of skill required to execute such a feat against a dangerous opponent as on Shahbazyan.
MMA journalist Mike Bohn took to social media to put Meerschart’s accomplishment in context. He pointed out that while Silva’s record has stood for years, Meerschart’s relentless pursuit of excellence has now set a new standard for future fighters to follow
Looking Ahead: What’s next for Meerschaert?
With this victory, Gerald Meerschart has now won two of his last four and his momentum is growing. As he continues to climb the rankings in the UFC middleweight division, speculation grows on who could hit a title shot in the near future. If he continues to perform at this level, it’s only a matter of time before Meerschart has a chance to fight for the belt.
But for now, Meerschaert can bask in the glory of breaking one of the most impressive records in MMA history. The entire MMA community is celebrating his achievements, and fans are eagerly awaiting what’s next for “GM3.”
