At UFC Vegas 96, the angst of the competition and the unforgettably electric moments set Gerald Meerschaert in the path of legends in his career. The experienced mixed martial arts competitor, who mostly brings wrestling background, gave a performance that will go down in history. Standing across from the young and dangerous Edmen Shahbazyan, Meerschaert showed that experience and technique does matter inside the cage.
The bout, which was a UFC Fight Night main event on Saturday night the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, saw Meerschaert outmaneuvering and collide and defeating Shahbazyan by submission in the second round. This was not just another win on his tally, it was one that will be etched in UFC history books and placed Meerschaert among UFC’s great. This win made Meerschaert set a record of the most finishes in the UFC middleweight division as he reached 12 finishes surpassing the great Anderson Silva.
This great accomplishment placed Meerschaert in the UFC history and he also received $50,000 for the Performance of the Night bonus. This bonus meant that Meerschaert received UFC bonus five times in his long history of the UFC career. This fight and in particular this night was a reward for a fighter who in his heart knew that this was not just a job but his life style.
A Night of Rewards
UFC Vegas 96 wasn’t only a night of historical moment for Meerschaert; it was also the fight night of the bags for the other fighters who also gave their best performance with their significant paychecks. The night took place at the UFC APEX building, and featured some of the most talented fighters willing to go the extra mile in order to secure the fight night bonuses.
Headliners Deliver a Show
The headliner was supposed to showcase a very intriguing fight between Caio Borralho and Jared Cannonier. These two fighters who exhibited very vigorous fighting tactics did not let me down. Finally, Borralho and Cannonier durable five intense round that were full of confidence, rush, and high interest from the fans. Both fighters had their moments, and displayed their desire and guts in fighting in what could be described as a war of attrition.
In the end however, victory was given to Borralho by the judges and it was a unanimous decision. His victory nevertheless was close and both him and Cannonier were given appropriate remunerations. For their bout, the fight was granted the accolade of Fight of the Night where both men pocketed an extra $50, 000. Both the fans and the fighters were served the recollection of why people get into the sport of MMA and why people love it so much.
Morales’ Power on Display
Another great performance of the night was Michael Morales in his fight against Neil Magny where the off raised the boxer’s striking prowess. The energetic Morales also did not take long to perform in the Octagon and he made a first round knockout that left the audience impressed. Magny was overwhelmed by his pinpoint accurate shots which were very devastating and that is why it took him a short time to finish him.
In Morales’ case, his win contributed him the other Performance of the Night bonus, which is $50,000. For a fighter scouting for a place in the UFC, this was a message well delivered. Morales showed that he is a contender to beat in the welterweight division and the knockout is one of the memorable moments of UFC Vegas 96.
