From alto saxophone to UFC, how a musician became a submission specialist
In short: Before he was a professional mixed martial artist, Gerald Meerschaert was a student of music education. After watching local fights on television, he traded his alto saxophone for combat training, eventually setting a record for the most finishes in the UFC middleweight division.
Born in Racine, Wisconsin, in 1987, Meerschaert’s path to professional fighting was far from linear. A trained Taekwondo practitioner, he spent his youth playing the alto saxophone, a skill he continued through his time at Walden III Middle and High School. He even pursued music education in college with the intention of becoming a teacher, but a shift in interest—sparked by watching local MMA and UFC bouts on TV—led him to begin training for combat sports at age 19. His early martial arts foundation also included Taekwondo training during his youth. This transition from music to combat sports occurred after he began his professional MMA journey in 2007.
His professional career began in March 2007, just one month after he started training. He quickly became known for his ability to end fights, eventually securing a record of 12 finishes in the UFC middleweight division. Prior to hitting the sport's peak, Meerschaert amassed a 25–8 tally through several promotions, such as Titan FC, King of the Cage (KOTC), and the Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA). He achieved his notable finishing record within the UFC middleweight division. His early professional bouts included competing in the Resurrection Fighting Alliance and Titan FC.
Meerschaert's career was marked by high-stakes competition and technical skill, often resulting in "Performance of the Night" honors. His journey included significant milestones, such as becoming the 2010 Wisconsin State middleweight champion after defeating Sam Alvey. Despite facing setbacks, including withdrawals due to COVID-19 testing and various visa-related fight cancellations for opponents, he remained a prominent figure in the middleweight division throughout his professional tenure from 2007 to 2026. His tenure was also defined by various technical victories through submissions like the guillotine choke. He earned multiple Performance of the Night bonuses throughout his time in the octagon.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Gerald Meerschaert
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-gerald-meerschaert.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in US culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
