Tag: Olivier Aubin-Mercier

2023 MMA retirement tracker: A list of former UFC champions, legends and more who hung up the gloves

The MMA world already has said goodbye to many retiring fighters in 2023, from former UFC champions to icons of the sport.

MMA is a constantly evolving sport with a revolving door of athletes entering and exiting. Currently, fighters from the era who helped make the sport so popular are beginning to trickle away from competition and hang up their gloves in order to move on to the next chapter in life.

If there’s one thing that’s well known about combat sports retirements, though, it’s that they often don’t last long. The urge to compete, and perhaps more importantly get a payday, will continue to drive fighters back even well beyond their expiration dates.

2023 has seen an uptick in notable fighters announcing they are done with the sport, and we have a list of those who have opted to walk away this year (the list will update as new retirements are announced).

2023 PFL champ Olivier Aubin-Mercier plans to take a year off MMA, sees return unlikely: ‘I don’t have it anymore’

Olivier Aubin-Mercier is likely done with MMA after his win at the 2023 PFL Championship.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – It looks like [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] has hit the end of his fighting career, at least for now.

After winning his second season under the PFL, Aubin-Mercier (21-5) told MMA Junkie that he’s retiring from MMA, but leaving the door for a potential return if he changes his mind down the line.

Aubin-Mercier defeated Clay Collard (24-11) in a unanimous decision in the main event of 2023 PFL Championship this past Friday at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. It was his second title win at lightweight, as he had won the season prior.

“I don’t know what I’m feeling to tell you the truth,” Aubin-Mercier told MMA Junkie. “It’s so weird, the sensation. I felt that I don’t have it anymore. I don’t feel the butterflies anymore. It feels like it’s just a normal day for me. Look, I knew it was my last time, but it was a strange feeling to tell you the truth.

According to Aubin-Mercier, he felt like the $1 million stage was just like another day in the gym.

“I still have the drive, but I just don’t have the butterflies anymore,” Aubin-Mercier said. “I was there backstage, and it felt like it was a normal day like training. The fight was tough, I’m not going to lie, but even the joy at the end, I didn’t really feel it. Maybe it’s because I was emotional because it was my last time, I don’t know. It was a weird experience.”

The 34-year-old fighter is not fully retiring, as he believes there’s a chance he might fight again. Still, that’s an unlikely possibility, and believes this was the last time he stepped in the cage as a professional fighter.

“For sure, I leave the door open, but I’m going to take a year off for sure, and you know, it’s hard for an athlete to come back after a year, but the feeling I have is that it’s my last time.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL Championship.

Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Clay Collard at 2023 PFL Championship: Best photos

Check out these photos from Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Clay Collard at 2023 PFL Championship for the lightweight title.

Check out these photos from Olivier [autotag]Aubin-Mercier[/autotag]’s lightweight title victory over Clay Collard at 2023 PFL Championship at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. (Photos by Cooper Neill, PFL MMA)

Kenny Florian credits PFL finalist Olivier Aubin-Mercier for recent finishes: ‘Dude is an absolute problem’

Kenny Florian is impressed by the killer instinct Olivier Aubin-Mercier has recently shown.

[autotag]Kenny Florian[/autotag] is impressed by the killer instinct [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] has shown in recent performances.

Aubin-Mercier (20-5) will look to claim his second consecutive $1 million lightweight season win when he meets Clay Collard (24-10-1) at 2023 PFL Championship on Friday at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. The event streams live on ESPN+ PPV.

Aubin-Mercier has scored knockouts or TKOs in three of his past four fights – his first finishes since April 2018. PFL analyst and commentator Florian thinks the UFC veteran is arguably one of the top three greatest Canadian fighters of all time, and raved about his evolution as a fighter.

“I think he’s without a question top five,” Florian told MMA Junkie Radio. “Certainly I think there’s a strong argument that he’s top three. You have Rory MacDonald, Georges St-Pierre, and he still has a bunch of years ahead of him, I think. I think when you talk about his overall game, his durability, his intelligence, and now his finishing ability, dude is an absolute problem.

“His size, he’s massive as a lightweight, and it seems like he always has an answer. Now he’s gotten to the point confidence-wise, momentum-wise where he can pick you apart then finish you. Whereas before, he’d pick you apart, outsmart you, outpoint you. But now, he’s really coming into his own as a mixed martial artist.”

Although Aubin-Mercier, who’s undefeated under the PFL banner, is only getting better as a fighter, he recently told MMA Junkie that’s he’s contemplating retirement after the 2023 PFL Championship.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL Championship.

Olivier Aubin-Mercier contemplating retirement after 2023 PFL Championship

Olivier Aubin-Mercier could be making the walk for the final time at 2023 PFL Championship.

[autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] could be making the walk for the final time at the 2023 PFL Championship.

Aubin-Mercier (20-5) will look to claim his second straight $1 million lightweight season win when he meets Clay Collard (24-10-1) on Nov. 24 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. The event streams live on ESPN+ PPV.

Aubin-Mercier almost didn’t take part in the 2023 season due to the hectic nature of the format. When asked if he’d rather just compete in superfights, “The Canadian Gangster” hinted he may be nearing the end.

“(I think I’m tired of) fighting in general,” Aubin-Mercier told MMA Junkie Radio. “I love PFL, I love the format of PFL, but to fight eight times in two years is a lot, and it’s really demanding. At least, I need some vacation. I’ve never been as good as right now, and maybe it’s one of the reasons why I feel a little bit bad going away, but I need at least year (off).

“I don’t know if in a year if the motivation is going to be there and if I’m going to be as good as right now. If I don’t feel I’m the best version of myself, I won’t bother coming back. So let’s wait a little bit and let’s see what PFL says. I would like to fight in Montreal, that’s for sure, and I think that could be the only reason why I would maybe think to fight one more time.”

While Aubin-Mercier didn’t 100 percent make up his mind on his fighting future, the odds are currently swaying more towards him hanging up his gloves.

“I think there’s more of a chance that I’m done after this fight than I’m not done,” Aubin-Mercier said.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL Championship.

Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Bruno Miranda at 2023 PFL Playoffs 3: Best photos

Check out these photos from Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Bruno Miranda, a lightweight semifinal bout at 2023 PFL Playoffs 3 in New York.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag]’s victory over Bruno Miranda in a lightweight semifinal bout at 2023 PFL Playoffs 3 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. (Photos courtesy of Cooper Neill, PFL MMA)

2023 PFL Playoffs 3 official results: Clay Collard wins instant classic semifinal bout vs. Shane Burgos

Check out the full results of 2023 PFL Playoffs 3, including which lightweights and welterweights advanced to the 2023 PFL Championships.

2023 PFL Playoffs 3 took place Wednesday and MMA Junkie provided live and official results throughout the entire card.

The event featured welterweight and lightweight playoff bouts at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card aired live on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET following prelims on ESPN+ beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.

In the featured contest, [autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag] (25-10) took on [autotag]Shane Burgos[/autotag] (16-6) in a Fight of the Year contender lightweight semifinal bout. It was a brutal contest with high-volume striking, but in the end, Collard earned unanimous 29-28 scores from the official judges.

Fists were flying early and often in the first round, living up to the expectation of an exciting matchup. Collard’s volume was higher, mixing up punches to the body and head with sharp combinations. Burgos landed well early and added some nice kicks, but as the round wore on, Collard put a stamp on the round by hurting Burgos with shots to the chin.

Collard continued to march forward with accurate punches early in the second, causing blood to flow from Burgos’ face. Keeping his opponent honest, Burgos fired back with damaging inside leg kicks. Collard continued to pepper out jabs, but was knocked off his feet by a hard leg kick from Burgos. The momentum only lasted seconds, as Collard returned to his feet and landed a hard left hook to send Burgos to the mat. Collard followed him to the ground for more strikes, but the finish wouldn’t come as Burgos worked his way back up. The round closed with more striking exchanges on the feet.

The striking exchanges continued at a high clip in the final round. Burgos added punches to the body along with kicks, as Collard worked fast punches and showed excellent head movement. A hard inside leg kick prompted Collard to shoot for a takedown, but Burgos stuffed it and shook his fingers at his opponent. They returned to the center to trade more strikes, but the inside kicks from Burgos really bothered Collard. After a clinch against the cage, it was back to fighting in the phone booth in the center of the cage. More inside leg kicks affected Collard’s movement, but he kept firing as they traded blows until the final horn.

The judges saw the fight unanimously for Collard, earning his first PFL finals appearance.

Collard entered the lightweight playoffs as the No. 1 seed after picking up a unanimous decision win over Yamato Nishikawa and a second-round stoppage of Stevie Ray in his regular season bouts. He now advances to the finals where he will face [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag], who recorded a second-round TKO stoppage against Bruno Miranda in the co-main event.

In the welterweight semifinal bouts, [autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag] defeated Carlos Leal by split decision, and [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag] turned away Solomon Renfro to advance to the finals.

Check out the official results, details and highlight clips from each bout below.

2023 PFL Playoffs 3 results: Olivier Aubin-Mercier TKOs Bruno Miranda for second-straight finals berth

Olivier Aubin-Mercier will have the opportunity win two consecutive PFL championships after winning his semifinals bout in New York.

[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):

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:

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL Playoffs 3.

UFC veterans in MMA and bareknuckle boxing action Aug. 23-27

Check out which veterans of the UFC are competing in combat sports across the globe this weekend.

This week, the UFC travels to Singapore for UFC Fight Night 225.

The event at Singapore Indoor Stadium features a featherweight clash between former champion [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] and “The Korean Zombie” [autotag]Chan Sung Jung[/autotag].

Elsewhere, many other combat sports events are taking place that feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

Check out which veterans of the global MMA leader are competing in MMA and bareknuckle boxing this week from Aug. 23-27.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

2023 PFL 6 fighter pay: Shane Burgos pockets six-figure purse after move from UFC

Check out the disclosed 2023 PFL 6 fighter pays, including what Shane Burgos is making after jumping over from the UFC.

PFL returned to Atlanta this past Thursday for the third of three shows in three consecutive weeks at Overtime Elite Arena.

2023 PFL 6 featured final regular season bouts at lightweight and welterweight, as well as three showcase fights. In the main event, 2022 PFL lightweight champion [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] knocked out Dana White’s Contender Series alum [autotag]Anthony Romero[/autotag].

Other names on the card included former UFC fighters [autotag]Shane Burgos[/autotag] and [autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag], as well as past PFL championship winners [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag], [autotag]Natan Schulte[/autotag], [autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag] and [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag].

MMA Junkie acquired a list of the 24 fighters’ disclosed payouts Monday from the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission. The amounts do not include bonuses, sponsorships or any other discretionary payments.

Five fighters topped the list at $100,000, while all other fighters received five-figure or four-figure payouts. Among them was Burgos, who left the UFC as a free agent to sign with the PFL. Friday, Burgos pocketed a six-figure flat purse against [autotag]Yamato Nishikawa[/autotag].

Scroll below to see the disclosed pay for each 2023 PFL 6 fighter.