Middleweights Bruno Silva and Gerland Meershaert offered a high chance of a finish at UFC San Diego on Saturday.
While “GM3” was well-versed on the ground, Silva himself had a black belt in BJJ, and also brought knockout power to the equation.
It was Meerschaert on the outside early, throwing leg kicks and slipping the odd Silva attack. Silva marched his opponent down, extending with his jab and looking to pick his spots. Meerschaert went to the body with a kick; Silva later flashed a kick that fell just shy of his opponent’s chin.
With two minutes left in the frame, Meerschaert finally took the fight into his wheelhouse, timing a takedown perfectly and planting Silva on his back. Silva closed his guard as Meerschaert came over the top with an elbow. Posturing up, Meerschaert added another elbow, landed a punch to the body, then went back to an elbow.
Round two opened with Silva fanning on an overhand right. Meerschaert again stayed mobile on the outside. Meerschaert fired a body kick; “Blindado” fired one, then two punches that missed. Another landed, but Meerschaert was off-balance. A moment later, Silva nearly gave up his neck, but pulled free before Meerschaert could clamp down on it. Silva, contending with a couple more body kicks through the round, switched stances a couple of times to avoid them.
The third saw Silva coming forward once again, trying to open things up. Meerschaert tied him up, but couldn’t get the fight to the ground. Meerschaert then showed that he had heavy hands as well, just crushing Silva with a left hand! Silva slumped to his knees, and Meerschaert added in a few more punches before jumping on a guillotine and forcing the tap!
WELL THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY!!! 😱@The_Real_GM3 delivers a club and a sub in R3!!!
[ #UFCSanDiego | LIVE on @ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/4VNYMr4y2C
— UFC (@ufc) August 13, 2022
Official Result: Gerald Meerschaert def. Bruno Silva by submission (guillotine choke), Round 3, 1:39
