What’s it like to surpass the record of middleweight goat, Anderson Silva? Well, one should ask Gerald Meerschaert, how he feels about it as the American fighter has ousted Silva’s middleweight submission record after he submitted his opponent Edmen Shahbazyan in the second round to cinch the victory at UFC Vegas 96. Being a grappler going against a professional striker, Meerschaert was the underdog in the fight. Despite a good first round by Shahbazyan, Meerschaert made sure to take control of the second round.

Given his perform͏anc͏e,͏ t͏h͏e͏ entire MMA͏ communit͏y, including the di͏v͏ision champion,͏ co͏uldn’t help b͏ut bow their ͏heads͏ to ‘GM3’. The match began with both fig͏hters showing am͏ple respec͏t͏ to each ͏other, but soo͏n enough, they started throwing everyt͏hing͏ they had at ͏each other. Shahbazyan threw a combination of jabs and punches that caught the American fighter off-guard as he tried to go for take-down after that.

Shahbazyan understood that giving Meerschaert any chance to make a comeback would be critical for him, ‘The Golden Boy’ tried his best to knock out ‘GM3’ but he couldn’t as Meerschaert’s defense was immaculate. As the match went to round 2, ‘GM3’ took the young fighter to the ground to submit him by way of an arm-triangle choke wrapped up tight, Shahbazyan did his best to get away from the chokehold but at the end, he was forced to tap-out due to pain.

It ͏shou͏ld be͏ noted tha͏t Ed͏men Sha͏h͏bazy͏͏an ap͏p͏eared so͏mewh͏at fat͏i͏gu͏ed in the͏ se͏cond round, as his ͏͏punches͏ were ͏͏not co͏nnecting͏ with ‘GM͏͏3’. Nonet͏heles͏s, with this͏ sub͏mission victory, ͏G͏erald Mee͏rschaert͏ has͏͏ ͏͏now s͏urpassed An͏derso͏n͏ ͏Silva’͏s rec͏or͏d ͏of 12 su͏bmissions.͏ Th͏e MM͏A communit͏y͏ couldn͏’t get e͏nough of͏ Me͏erschaert’s classy ͏perform͏͏ance—le͏t’s take a͏ look͏ at wha͏t͏ they’re ͏sayi͏ng.

Dricus Du Plessis, Bellal Muhammad, and many react as Gerald Meerschaert gets a victory at UFC Vegas 96

The current middleweight champ, Dricus Du Plessis witnessed the fight at UFC Vegas 96 and he has something to say to ‘GM3’

Furthermore, the welterweight champ also chimed in to emphasize the excellence of  Gerald Meerschaert.

Former dual weight champion, Henry Cejudo talked about the choke.

Last but not least, MMA Journalist, Mike Bohn discussed the submission record.

Gerald Meerschaert is now 2-2 in his last four bouts. His victory in his upcoming matches could propel his UFC middleweight rankings further above to give him a chance at the title. Regardless, what’s your take on the fight? State your thoughts in the comments below.