UFC Vegas 96 video: Gerald Meerschaert breaks Anderson Silva’s record with dogged comeback submission

Gerald Meerschaert sits atop the UFC middleweight record books, and he did it in the style he’s accustomed.

Meerschaert entered Saturday’s UFC Vegas 96 event as a significant underdog in his main card opener against Edmen Shahbazyan. After a patient first round, Shazbazyan badly hurt Meerschaert in Round 2, and despite eating around 40 unanswered ground strikes, “GM3” was able to survive.

Eventually, Meerschaert landed a takedown before locking in a beautiful arm-triangle choke, forcing Shahbazyan to tap at 4:12 of the second round. Check out video of the finish below.

With the submission, Meerschaert surpasses Anderson Silva for the most finishes in UFC middleweight history with 12. After going winless in 2023, Meerschaert is now 2-0 in 2024, which includes a submission of Bryan Barberena.

Shahbazyan, once touted as a future UFC champion, has now lost two of three, and five of his past seven octagon appearances.