Olivier Aubin-Mercier has announced his retirement, less than a week after winning the PFL title and the US$1 million prize pool attached to it for the second year in a row.
After obtaining a favorable decision following a tough battle against American “Cassius” Clay Collard during the main event of the PFL championship, Friday in Washington, the 34-year-old Montrealer indicated that he was going to take a break.
On Wednesday, he made his decision.
“Feeling incredibly grateful today as I hang up my gloves,” “The Canadian Gangster” wrote on Instagram.
“As I leave the competition, I hope that the path I have traveled will serve as an invitation to other Quebec fighters. May you find in the PFL the same support, the same faith and the same opportunities to highlight our Quebec tenacity. »
Aubin-Mercier (21-5-0) thus ends his career with a streak of 10 victories in the PFL.
Unlike other mixed martial arts circuits, the PFL focuses on a regular season and playoffs, with a championship fight allowing the winner to get their hands on a check in the seven figures.
Aubin-Mercier knocked Scotland’s Stevie “Braveheart” Ray to the mat with a second-round punch on November 25, 2022, to secure the title at Madison Square Garden.
Aubin-Mercier joined the PFL after leaving the UFC in 2019 following back-to-back losses to American Alexander “The Great Ape” Hernandez, Brazilian Gilbert “Durinho” Burns and Russian Arman Tsarukya.
He then took a 23-month break, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aubin-Mercier attributed his success in the PFL to his work and his ability to use his head.
“You have to train intelligently. […] I talked to a lot of PFL fighters and they all said the same thing. You can’t train like before,” he said, mentioning the PFL schedule.