Meerschaert vs Tavares

Who won Meerschaert vs Tavares?

Brad Tavares beat Gerald Meerschaert by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest during the main card of UFC Fight Night, on Saturday 5th April 2025 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The scorecards were announced as 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 in favor of the winner Brad Tavares.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 3 rounds in the Middleweight division, which meant the weight limit was 185 pounds (13.2 stone or 83.9 KG).

Meerschaert vs Tavares stats

Gerald Meerschaert stepped into the octagon with a record of 37 wins, 18 losses and 0 draws, 6 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 29 by submission.

Brad Tavares made his way to the cage with a record of 20 wins, 10 losses and 0 draws, 5 of those wins coming by knock out and 2 by submission.

This was Gerald Meerschaert's 23rd fight in the UFC, having made his debut for the promotion in 2016. Brad Tavares marked his 26th fight for them, having made his own debut for the promotion in 2010.

Gerald Meerschaert's UFC record stood at 12-11-0, while Brad Tavares' came in at 16-10-0.

The stats suggested Tavares had a slight advantage in power over Meerschaert, with a 25% knock out percentage over Meerschaert's 16%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Meerschaert had a massive advantage over Tavares, boasting a 78% submission rate over Tavares' 10%.

Gerald Meerschaert was the same age as Brad Tavares, at 37 years old.

Meerschaert had a 4-inch reach advantage.

Meerschaert was the more experienced professional fighter, having had 25 more fights, and made his debut in 2007, 5 months earlier than Tavares, whose first professional fight was in 2007. He had fought 26 more professional rounds, 103 to Tavares' 77.

Meerschaert vs Tavares form

Gerald Meerschaert had beaten 2 of his last 5 opponents.

In his last fight before this contest, he had lost to Reinier de Ridder at UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates on 9th November 2024 by submission in the 3rd round at UFC Apex, Las Vegas, United States.

Previous to that, he had won against Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho on 24th August 2024 by submission in the 2nd round at UFC Apex, Las Vegas.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Bryan Barberena at UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura on 16th March 2024 by submission in the 2nd round at UFC Apex, Las Vegas.

Before that, he had been beaten by Andre Petroski at UFC 292 on 19th August 2023 by split decision in their 3 round contest at TD Garden, Boston.

He had been defeated by Joseph Pyfer at UFC 287 on 8th April 2023 by knockout in the 1st round at Miami-Dade Arena, Miami.

Brad Tavares had beaten 1 of his last 5 opponents.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had lost to Jun Yong Park at UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira on 12th October 2024 by split decision in their 3 round contest at UFC Apex, Las Vegas, United States.

Previous to that, he had been beaten by Gregory Rodrigues at UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer on 10th February 2024 by knockout in the 3rd round at UFC Apex, Las Vegas.

Going into that contest, he had defeated Chris Weidman at UFC 292 on 19th August 2023 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at TD Garden, Boston.

Before that, he had been defeated by Bruno Silva at UFC Fight Night – Pavlovich vs. Blaydes on 22nd April 2023 by knockout in the 1st round at UFC Apex, Las Vegas.

He had lost to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 276 on 2nd July 2022 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Gerald Meerschaert had been fighting more than Brad Tavares.

Going to this contest, Gerald Meerschaert had last fought 5 months and 28 days ago, while Brad Tavares' last outing had been 6 months and 25 days ago.

Meerschaert's last 5 fights had come over a period of 2 years and 29 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 5 months and 1 day. In those fights, he fought a total of 11 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.2 rounds on average.

Tavares' last 5 fights had come over a period of 2 years, 10 months and 5 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 6 months and 27 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 13 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.6 rounds on average.

What time did Meerschaert vs Tavares start?

The fighters were expected to walk out at around 1:40 AM UTC , which was 9:40 PM EST or 6:40 PM PST on the West Coast of America, or 2:40 AM BST in the UK.

What were the odds on Meerschaert vs Tavares?

Gerald Meerschaert was a 13/10 (+130) underdog going into the contest, while Brad Tavares made his way into the ring at 31/50 (-160) with oddsmakers.