In a stunning twist, Canadian fighter Olivier Aubin-Mercier, known as “The Canadian Gangster,” is considering a year-long leave and even the possibility of retirement after his upcoming PFL lightweight championship bout.
In just a span of two months, the electrifying Aubin-Mercier will have the chance to defend his PFL lightweight title and pocket a second million-dollar purse. His journey to this point has been nothing short of remarkable, especially since parting ways with the UFC in 2019.
Since leaving the UFC, Aubin-Mercier has enjoyed an impressive nine-fight win streak, silencing critics who once labeled him as a decision-focused fighter. In his last four bouts, he has dazzled by finishing three of them, showcasing his newfound ability to end fights early.
In an exclusive interview with Cageside Press, Aubin-Mercier attributed this newfound knack for finishing fights to seizing opportunities and his own personal growth. He explained, “I do think it’s a lot about the opportunity, the maturity I have now. I’m calmer about that stuff.”
One pivotal moment in his journey was his victory against Bruno Miranda, which secured his return to the PFL Championship for the second consecutive year. Despite the immense pressure last year, Aubin-Mercier expressed a more relaxed approach this time around, stating, “This year, I am just here to have a bonus. I feel better than last year, that’s for sure.”
However, it’s his post-championship plans that have sent shockwaves through the MMA community. Aubin-Mercier confessed, “I’m going to take a year off minimum,” and added that this could potentially mark the end of his fighting career.
When questioned about the certainty of his year-long hiatus, Aubin-Mercier affirmed, “Yeah for sure. Stuff happens in life, and some stuff happened in my life, so I do think I need a year off right now.”
His upcoming fight against Clay Collard takes on an even more significant meaning in light of this revelation. Collard, in a recent interview, didn’t anticipate a brawl in their match, but Aubin-Mercier playfully retorted, “Tell him it’s going to be a banger. Tell him we’re going to trade standing up.”
Should this fight indeed be the end of the road for Olivier Aubin-Mercier as a professional fighter, he expressed a desire to remain connected to the sport in various capacities, such as competing in grappling matches, assisting PFL in scouting talent, and expanding the promotion’s presence in Canada.
The interview also touched upon the much-anticipated grappling match featuring Georges St-Pierre, Aubin-Mercier’s teammate. When asked who St-Pierre should face, Aubin-Mercier suggested, “I think the smart thing to do would be Diaz personally… after that, Khabib Nurmagomedov would be great.”
A fight between St-Pierre and Nurmagomedov, who both retired from the UFC, has been a topic of discussion, and Aubin-Mercier hinted that we might see more of GSP in grappling if he feels less pressure than in MMA.
As we await Aubin-Mercier’s championship bout and potentially his retirement decision, the world of MMA remains captivated by his intriguing journey and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead for him in and out of the octagon.
