LAS VEGAS — Julius Walker defeated Gerald Meerschaert by TKO (ground n’ pound) at 3:35 of Round 2 at UFC Vegas 122 in Las Vegas, closing the preliminary card with a light-heavyweight victory that prompted the 60-fight veteran to retire. Meerschaert, 38, was the older fighter by 11 years and was moving to light heavyweight for his 60th professional bout.
Walker walked the veteran down early, controlling clinches and landing a trip takedown after a brief pause for a low knee. From top position he opened up with punches before Meerschaert threatened with an armbar, which Walker slammed his way out of, and later survived an arm-triangle choke attempt from mount as Walker landed elbows and punches to the side of the head to clearly take the opening round.
Walker again put Meerschaert on the fence to open round two, firing knees before securing another trip takedown into half guard. He worked for a kimura, switched to elbows, and easily defended a triangle attempt as his size told. Meerschaert returned to his feet with two minutes remaining but was taken down again, and a final flurry of punches with Meerschaert covering up forced the referee to intervene at 3:35. The defeat was Meerschaert’s sixth straight.
Meerschaert then stripped off his gloves and made his retirement official, saying: “I’ve had a good run,” noting he had set a few records along the way, and adding “Can’t fight forever.” He closed by saying “Can’t think of a better job. I’m going to miss you.” Walker, who improves to 8-3 with the win, had promised to give his opponent time on the microphone and spoke about mental health, noting the mother of his daughter had passed and that he was taking his daughter to Disneyland.