Gerald Meerschaert faced a challenging situation ahead of his pivotal fight at UFC Perth. During the official weigh-ins, he came in at 190 pounds, missing weight by four pounds for his middleweight matchup against Jacob Malkoun. This marks the first time in the 58-fight veteran’s career that he has failed to make weight.
Missed Weight Consequences
Due to the weight miss, Meerschaert’s bout will proceed as a catchweight fight. He will forfeit 30 percent of his fight purse as a penalty for this infraction. The 38-year-old fighter desperately needs a victory, currently on a four-fight losing streak that dates back to August 2024.
Recent Performance
- Meerschaert has gone winless since 2025.
- He suffered first-round finishes in his previous two bouts against Kyle Daukaus and Michal Oleksiejczuk.
UFC Perth Weigh-In Highlights
In contrast to Meerschaert’s struggle, the weigh-ins for UFC Perth saw the headliners, Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Prates, successfully making weight at 170 pounds. Della Maddalena aims to reclaim the welterweight title, while Prates hopes a victory will set him up for a championship opportunity.
Fighter Rankings
Currently, Della Maddalena ranks No. 2 in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings for welterweights, with Prates holding the No. 7 spot.
Complete Weigh-In Results
Beyond Meerschaert, all 25 other fighters scheduled for the event successfully made weight. Notable matchups on the main card include:
- Jack Della Maddalena (170) vs. Carlos Prates (170)
- Beneil Dariush (156) vs. Quillan Salkilld (156)
- Tim Elliott (126) vs. Steve Erceg (125.5)
- Marwan Rahiki (146) vs. Ollie Schmid (145.5)
- Shamil Gaziev (264) vs. Brando Pericic (265)
- Tai Tuivasa (265) vs. Louie Sutherland (261)
The preliminary card features additional matchups, including:
- Cam Rowston (185) vs. Robert Bryczek (186)
- Junior Tafa (205.5) vs. Kevin Christian (204)
- Jacob Malkoun (186) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (190)*
- Colby Thicknesse (135) vs. Vince Morales (136)
- Ben Johnston (185.5) vs. Wes Schultz (186)
- Jonathan Micallef (170) vs. Themba Gorimbo (171)
- Dom Mar Fan (155) vs. Kody Steele (156)
*Note: Meerschaert’s bout with Jacob Malkoun will proceed at a catchweight due to his weight miss.
