Olivier Aubin-Mercier has decided to retire from professional mixed martial arts.
The 34-year-old French-Canadian fighter recently claimed his second consecutive PFL title and has now announced his retirement after considering taking a break from the sport. Aubin-Mercier sealed his career with a victory over Clay Collard in the main event of the 2023 PFL Championship before making the decision to step away from competitive fighting.
In a post on Instagram, Aubin-Mercier expressed his gratitude and acknowledged the support he received from the PFL, stating, “As I hang up my gloves today, I feel an incredible sense of gratitude and I have to give a big shout out to the PFL. The PFL believed in me. They recognized that this kid from Quebec is a fighter who was never going to quit. It’s an honor to step into the cage under their flag.”
“As I retire from competition, I hope that my path will serve as an invitation to other Quebec fighters. I hope that you will continue to support the PFL with the same support, the same beliefs, and the tenacity of our Quebecois. My deepest condolences to everyone behind the scenes who have been involved in this journey. I had so much fun with you guys. It was the fight of a lifetime. Whatever it is, let’s move on to the next round! PFL, you were the corner team everyone deserved. Merci poured the touts Masu.”
Aubin-Mercier gained attention at the beginning of his career, going 4-0, then rose to prominence when he appeared on “The Ultimate Fighter: Nations,” representing his home country of Canada against Australia. Although he narrowly lost a split decision to Chad Laprise in the finals, he caught the eye of the UFC and was signed to their roster.
During his five-year tenure in the UFC, Aubin-Mercier compiled a 7-4 record, securing victories over Drew Dober and Evan Dunham. Following three consecutive losses, he declined a new contract with the UFC but was swiftly picked up by the PFL and added to their lightweight division.
From that point on, Aubin-Mercier remained undefeated.
Throughout his ten matches in the PFL, Aubin-Mercier achieved an unblemished record and clinched the championship title twice, earning $1 million each time. He delivered three knockouts during his remarkable streak, defeating notable figures such as UFC veteran Shane Burgos, as well as previous PFL champions Rausch Manfio and Nathan Schulte.
Following his recent victory over Corral, Aubin-Mercier hinted at the possibility of retiring, then ultimately made the decision a few days later. He concluded his career with a total of 21 wins and 5 losses.
