LAS VEGAS – Gerald Meerschaert is still placing his goals at the highest echelon of the sport going into his 23rd octagon appearance Saturday at UFC on ESPN 65 Meerschaert (37-18 MMA, 12-10 UFC) has had mixed results in his more than eight-year run the promotion, as his record reflects. There’s been high points and low points, but he has put together a notable career, and currently holds the middleweight record for finishes and submission wins going into his upcoming matchup with fellow veteran Brad Tavares at the UFC Apex (ESPN, ESPN+ ). After losing his previous outing to debuting former ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder in October, Meerschaert is relishing the matchup with Tavares, who has followed a similar path to him. “I think he’s the only guy active right now at middleweight that’s got more UFC fights than I do,” Meerschaert told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 64 media day