[autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] is heading back to the PFL finals.
In the co-main event of 2023 PFL Playoffs 3, Aubin-Mercier (20-5) stopped Bruno Miranda with heavy ground and pound to punch his ticket to a second-consecutive finals appearance. The lightweight semifinal bout took place at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, and was finished officially by TKO stoppage at 4:41 of Round 2.
The first round of the fight was competitive, but Aubin-Mercier appeared sharper and more poised than his opposition. In the second round, Aubin-Mercier found the finishing touches he needed.
After landing a laser of a left hand that dropped Miranda, Aubin-Mercier followed him to the ground, took full mount, and ground and pounded until referee Dan Miragliotta saw enough.
Check out video of the finish below (via X):
OLIVER AUBIN-MERCIER IS GOING BACK TO THE #PFLWorldChampionship!#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/wBgNOmCbRF— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 24, 2023
The 2022 lightweight champion, Aubin-Mercier will have a chance to repeat and earn another $1 million check. “The Canadian Gangster” defeated Shane Burgos by unanimous decision and knocked out Anthony Romero in his regular season bouts. He now awaits the winner between Clay Collard and Shane Burgos, who fight for their spot in the finals in the main event of the evening.
Up-to-the-minute results of 2023 PFL Playoffs 3 include:
- Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Bruno Miranda via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:41 – lightweight semifinal bout
- Sadibou Sy def. Carlos Leal via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) – welterweight semifinal bout
- Magomed Magomedkerimov def. Solomon Renfro via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – welterweight semifinal bout
- Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Ed Davis via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:23 – amateur bout
- Alexei Pergande def. Shawn Stefanelli via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Mostafa Rashed Neda def. Korey Kuppe via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:55
- Michelle Montague def. Abigail Montes via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:38
- Abdullah Al-Qahtani def. David Zelner via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)
- John Caldone def. Nathaniel Grimard via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:32
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL Playoffs 3.