Gerald Meerschaert Misses Weight by Four Pounds, Forfeits 30 Percent of Purse for Jacob Malkoun Bout at UFC Perth

Key facts

• Gerald Meerschaert weighed 190 pounds, four over the non-title middleweight limit, on Friday at UFC Perth official weigh-ins.
• Meerschaert forfeits 30 percent of his purse as penalty for missing weight.
• The bout proceeds at a catchweight; Meerschaert is on a four-fight losing streak dating to August 2024.
• Meerschaert, 38, has not won a fight in 2025 and was finished in the first round in his last two bouts.
• Jacob Malkoun will fight in his home country of Australia at RAC Arena in Perth.
• All other 25 fighters on the card successfully made weight, including headliners Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Prates.
• The main card airs on Paramount+ in the USA and TNT Sports in the UK.

Missed Weight Derails Middleweight Matchup

Gerald Meerschaert stepped onto the scale at 190 pounds on Friday, four pounds above the non-title middleweight limit, marking the first time in his 58-fight career that he has missed weight. As a result, his bout against Jacob Malkoun at UFC Perth will proceed at a catchweight, and Meerschaert will forfeit 30 percent of his purse to his opponent. The penalty adds financial sting to an already precarious competitive position. Meerschaert, 38, has lost four consecutive fights since August 2024 and went winless throughout 2025, with his most recent defeats coming via first-round finishes against Kyle Daukaus and Michal Oleksiejczuk.

Malkoun Welcomes Meerschaert to Australia

Jacob Malkoun, fighting in his home country, will face the veteran grappler at RAC Arena in Perth. The middleweight bout is part of the UFC Fight Night 275 card, headlined by a welterweight clash between Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Prates. Malkoun, a grappler himself, now faces an opponent who is both desperate for a win and financially penalized. The catchweight arrangement spares Meerschaert from a cancellation but does not erase the four-fight skid that hangs over his career.

Weigh-In Success for Rest of Card

Outside of Meerschaert, all 25 other fighters scheduled for Saturday's event made weight without issue. Headliners Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Prates both hit 170 pounds, the championship limit for their welterweight bout. Co-main event lightweights Beneil Dariush and Quillan Salkilld each weighed 156 pounds. Other successful weigh-ins included flyweights Tim Elliott (126) and Steve Erceg (125.5), as well as featherweights Marwan Rahiki (146) and Ollie Schmid (145.5). The main card also features heavyweights Shamil Gaziev vs. Brando Pericic and Tai Tuivasa vs. Louie Sutherland.

Meerschaert's Losing Streak Deepens Stakes

Meerschaert's four-fight losing streak, which began in August 2024, has seen him fall from contention in the middleweight division. His last victory came over a year ago, and back-to-back first-round stoppages have raised questions about his durability at 38. The 30 percent purse forfeiture is a standard penalty for missing weight in the UFC, but it underscores the gravity of the infraction. For Malkoun, the extra money and the home-crowd advantage provide tangible benefits, though the bout's catchweight status may affect rankings implications.

Broadcast and Viewing Information

UFC Fight Night 275 airs on Paramount+ in the United States and on TNT Sports in the United Kingdom, with streaming available via Paramount+ and UFC Fight Pass in the US, and via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max in the UK. The main card begins at 7 a.m. ET. Tickets for the event at RAC Arena remain available through official channels. The card features 12 bouts in total, with the Meerschaert-Malkoun catchweight fight serving as a key undercard attraction.

Outlook for Both Fighters

For Meerschaert, a loss would extend his skid to five and potentially jeopardize his roster spot. A win, even at catchweight, would halt the slide and provide a foundation for rebuilding in 2026. Malkoun, fighting on home soil, has an opportunity to hand a veteran a fifth straight defeat and climb the middleweight ladder. The catchweight bout may not count toward official rankings, but a decisive performance could still open doors for future matchups in the division.

The bottom line

• Gerald Meerschaert missed weight for the first time in his career, coming in four pounds over the middleweight limit.
• He forfeits 30 percent of his purse to opponent Jacob Malkoun as penalty.
• Meerschaert is on a four-fight losing streak, with his last win in 2024.
• The bout proceeds at a catchweight; all other fighters on the card made weight.
• UFC Perth is headlined by Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates at welterweight.
• The event takes place at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, with main card broadcast on Paramount+ and TNT Sports.