UFC Perth fighter who holds epic record receives huge fine after missing weight

Gerald Meerschaert has automatically forfeited 30 per cent of his UFC Perth fight purse after missing weight.

Meerschaert, who holds the record for the most finishes in UFC middleweight history, tipped the scales on Friday 4lbs above the 186lbs limit.

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Thankfully for the American’s opponent, Jacob Malkoun, the fight Down Under is still going ahead as planned.

And it will be Australia’s own Malkoun who receives 30 per cent of Meerschaert’s purse, which could be quite substantial, considering the latter has had 25 fights in the UFC.

Who is Gerald Meerschaert?

Meerschaert made his UFC debut in 2016 and has fought a who’s who of the promotion’s biggest stars.

The 38-year-old from Wisconsin has traded blows with the likes of current UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev and top-ranked 185lbs fighter Reinier de Ridder.

‘GM3’ has earned five Performance of the Night bonuses throughout his career and boasts a professional MMA record of 37-21.

His 12 finishes in the UFC middleweight division are the most in promotional history, ahead of Anderson Silva (11), Nate Marquardt, Chris Leben and Derek Brunson, who all have nine.

As previously mentioned, Meerschaert’s middleweight bout with Malkoun will proceed as normal on the undercard of UFC Perth.

UFC Perth weigh-ins complete

All other 25 fighters at UFC Perth made weight in Western Australia on Friday.

The show takes place at RAC Arena and is headlined by a mouth-watering welterweight contest between former UFC champion Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Prates.

Whoever gets their arm raised in the main event will be next in line to challenge for the title at 170lbs, currently held by Islam Makhachev.

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Della Maddalena won the UFC welterweight title against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 last May, but lost the belt to Makhachev in his first defence six months later.

Prates, meanwhile, handed Leon Edwards the first KO defeat of his career last time out at UFC 322.

‘The Nightmare’ is one of the most exciting talents in Dana White‘s promotion right now, and has lost just once since his UFC debut—a unanimous decision defeat to Ian Machado Garry last April.

Also at UFC Perth, exciting Aussie lightweight Quillan Salkilld faces veteran Beneil Dariush in the co-main event.

Salkilld put his stamp on the lightweight division with a vicious head-kick KO of Nasrat Haqparast in October and scored his third bonus finish in his last fight against Jamie Mullarkey at UFC 325.

The 26-year-old faces the toughest test of his career in Dariush, who was knocked out by Benoit Saint Denis in 16 seconds at UFC 322.

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Elsewhere on the card Down Under, Tim Elliot faces Steve Erceg at flyweight, while Shamil Gaziev takes on Brando Pericic in a huge heavyweight clash.

Briton Louie Sutherland also features, having stepped up on a week’s notice to replace the injured Sean Sharaf against Tai Tuivasa.

UFC Schedule

For all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s UFC schedule.