Olivier Aubin-Mercier – Page 4

Olivier Aubin-Mercier takes out Stevie Ray with one punch to become new PFL lightweight $1 million winner

Olivier Aubin-Mercier was having some trouble in the second round. Rather than go to the third, he just took Stevie Ray out, instead.

[autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] was having some trouble in the second round. Rather than go to the third, he just took [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] out, instead.

Aubin-Mercier (17-5) knocked out Ray (25-11) late in the second round to win the 2022 PFL lightweight season and the $1 million prize. The Canadian’s stoppage win came with 20 seconds left in the frame and came not long after he got back to his feet after Ray controlled him on the canvas for several minutes.

Aubin-Mercier controlled things in the first round and took Ray off his feet several times with low kicks. But in the second, Ray turned an Aubin-Mercier kick into an opportunity on the canvas. He locked the Canadian up with a body triangle and made Aubin-Mercier defend choke attempts and short strikes for several minutes. But with 90 seconds left in the round, Aubin-Mercier broke away and got back to his feet.

Just when it looked like Aubin-Mercier was going to cruise to Round 3 for a reset, though, he threw a right hook that drilled Ray in the jaw. Ray was out in a hurry and Aubin-Mercier had a one-punch knockout to win $1 million.

Aubin-Mercier’s win was part of his continued career rally. Three years ago, he found himself outside the UFC after a three-fight skid. He came to the PFL in 2021 and improved to 6-0 with the promotion with the win over Ray. But Friday’s knockout was his first PFL finish – and first stoppage overall since April 2018.

CANADA HAS A NEW WORLD CHAMPION! OLIVIER AUBIN-MERCIER IS A WORLD CHAMP! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[#PFLWorldChampionship | BUY NOW https://t.co/9tors6rrKk | LIVE ON ESPN+ PPV] pic.twitter.com/SEwY3MJiUU

— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 26, 2022

The 2022 PFL finals took place at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2022 PFL Championships.

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Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Stevie Ray at 2022 PFL Championships: Best Photos

Check out the best photos from Olivier Aubin-Mercier’s second-round knockout win over Stevie Ray to win the 2022 PFL lightweight season.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag]’s second-round knockout win over [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] to win the lightweight season at the 2022 PFL Championships at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York. (Photos courtesy of the PFL)

2022 PFL Championship predictions: Who are our two unanimous picks in $1 million finals?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the 2022 PFL Championships, which feature six $1 million playoff finals.

	Harrison vs. Pacheco	Jenkins vs. Loughnane	Delija vs. Scheffel	Budd vs. Ladd	Aubin-Mercier vs. Ray	Sy vs. Taylor	Akhmedov vs. Wilkinson
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 186-109	Harrison (81%)	Jenkins (51%)	Delija (77%)	Budd (57%)	Aubin-Mercier (81%)	Sy (56%)	Wilkinson (56%)
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 196-104 2018 Champion	Harrison	Loughnane	Delija	Budd	Aubin-Mercier	Sy	Akhmedov
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 187-113	Harrison	Jenkins	Delija	Ladd	Aubin-Mercier	Taylor	Wilkinson
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 186-114	Harrison	Loughnane	Delija	Budd	Aubin-Mercier	Taylor	Akhmedov
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 183-117	Harrison	Jenkins	Delija	Ladd	Aubin-Mercier	Taylor	Wilkinson
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 183-117 2014 Champion	Harrison	Loughnane	Delija	Budd	Aubin-Mercier	Sy	Akhmedov
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 181-119	Harrison	Loughnane	Delija	Budd	Aubin-Mercier	Taylor	Wilkinson
Simon Samano @SJSamano 178-122	Pacheco	Jenkins	Delija	Ladd	Aubin-Mercier	Sy	Wilkinson
Nolan King @mma_kings 173-127	Harrison	Jenkins	Delija	Ladd	Aubin-Mercier	Taylor	Wilkinson
Brian Garcia @thegoze 172-128 2017 Champion	Harrison	Loughnane	Delija	Ladd	Aubin-Mercier	Sy	Wilkinson
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 163-137	Harrison	Loughnane	Delija	Budd	Aubin-Mercier	Sy	Wilkinson
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 146-154	Harrison	Loughnane	Delija	Budd	Aubin-Mercier	Sy	Akhmedov

The PFL closes out its 2022 season with six $1 million playoff finals this week.

The 2022 PFL finals take place Friday at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, two-time women’s lightweight season winner [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (15-0) goes after her third crown when she meets [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] (18-4) for the third time. Harrison is 2-0 against the Brazilian. Harrison is a massive 8-1 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Pacheco is +470. But not all of our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are taking Harrison. One of our pickers has Pacheco in a big upset.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag] (19-5) takes on [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (25-4) in the featherweight final. Loughnane is a -180 favorite and has a 7-4 lead in our picks.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag] (22-5) is a heavy -350 favorite in the heavyweight season final against [autotag]Matheus Scheffel[/autotag] (17-8). Delija, the 2021 runner-up, is one of our two unanimous picks at 11-0.

In a non-playoff showcase fight, former Bellator women’s featherweight champion [autotag]Julia Budd[/autotag] (16-4) takes on [autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] (9-3), who recently was released by the UFC and signed with the PFL. Ladd is a -230 favorite at the betting window, but it’s Budd who has a narrow 6-5 edge from our pickers.

In the lightweight season final, [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] (16-5) is a big -420 favorite against [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] (25-10) and is our second unanimous pick.

[autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag] (12-6-2) takes on [autotag]Dilano Taylor[/autotag] (10-2) in the welterweight final. Sy nearly is a 2-1 favorite, but he has just a slim 6-5 picks lead.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] (24-7-1) meets 2-1 favorite [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] (16-2) in the light heavyweight final. Australia’s Wilkinson has a 7-4 lead from our staff pickers.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Harrison (81 percent), Jenkins (51 percent), Delija (77 percent), Budd (57 percent), Aubin-Mercier (81 percent), Sy (56 percent) and Wilkinson (74 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2022 PFL Championships.

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UFC veterans in MMA and bareknuckle action Nov. 25-26

Check out which veterans of the UFC are in action this week.

This week, the UFC is idle following UFC Fight Night 215 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Elsewhere, there are a number of MMA and bareknuckle events taking place that feature familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

These 14 veterans of the global MMA leader are competing in MMA and boxing this week from Nov. 25-26.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

2022 PFL Championships lineup set for pay-per-view, includes 6 title fights and more

2022 PFL Championships feature six title fights, former UFC contenders, and Muhammad Ali’s grandson on the promotion’s first pay-per-view.

The finale of the 2022 PFL postseason is set.

2022 PFL Championships takes place Friday, Nov. 25 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, the promotion announced Wednesday. The eight-fight main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view (8 p.m. ET) after the four-fight undercard on ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET).

While there are no surprises in terms of the six $1 million title fight matchups, which were configured during the post-season, a handful of showcase bouts were also added to the card – including one amateur bout involving the grandson of a boxing icon.

The event marks the first time the promotion has put on a pay-per-view card.

See below to check out the full 2022 PFL Championships lineup, with two bouts still to be added, according to promotion officials.

2022 PFL Championships: A look at the 12 finalists

A dozen 2022 PFL finalists will compete in championship bouts this November, including Kayla Harrison, five UFC alums and an alternate.

Dozens of fighters started out in the 2022 PFL season with the goal of fighting for the championship – and million dollar prize that comes with it.

In the back half of 2022, only two fighters in each weight class remain, totaling a dozen overall. Some suffered losses during the season and rebounded. Others were inserted mid-season, rallied, and capitalized. One fighter even won two short-notice outings as an alternate to clinch his spot in the final.

Each finalist had their own unique journey and now are on the verge of becoming millionaires with a single punch or kick – or a 15-minute all-out war. Fate is in their hands.

2022 PFL Championships are scheduled for Nov. 25 at a yet-to-be-announced location in the U.S.. Scroll below to see who the 12 finalists are and learn about their 2022 journeys toward the finals.

2022 PFL Playoffs 1: Best photos from New York

Check out these photos from 2022 PFL Playoffs 1 at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Check out these photos from the fights at 2022 PFL Playoffs 1 which took place at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York. (Photos courtesy of Cooper Neill, PFL MMA)

2022 PFL Playoffs 1 predictions: Can Stevie Ray upset Anthony Pettis again?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the PFL Playoffs 1 card in New York, featuring lightweight and light heavyweight semifinal fights.

	Pettis vs. Ray	Akhmeddov vs. Silveira	Aubin-Mercier vs. Martinez	Wilkinson vs. Monte
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 127-74	Pettis (60%)	Silveira (59%)	Aubin-Mercier (88%)	Wilkinson (74%)
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 136-70 2018 Champion	Ray	Akhmedov	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 132-74 2014 Champion	Pettis	Silveira	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 132-74	Ray	Akhmedov	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 128-78	Pettis	Silveira	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson
Simon Samano @SJSamano 127-79	Pettis	Akhmedov	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 126-80	Pettis	Silveira	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 125-81	Pettis	Akhmedov	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson
Nolan King @mma_kings 123-83	Ray	Akhmedov	Martinez	Wilkinson
Brian Garcia @thegoze 121-85 2017 Champion	Pettis	Akhmedov	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 114-92	Pettis	Silveira	Martinez	Wilkinson
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 101-105	Pettis	Akhmedov	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson

The PFL returns this week for the first of three sets of playoff semifinals, starting with lightweights and light heavyweights.

The 2022 PFL Playoffs 1 event takes place Friday at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+ and ahead of post-lim qualifiers on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, No. 1 lightweight seed [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] (25-13) takes on [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] (24-10) in a rematch from the regular season. Ray upset Pettis in their first meeting with a second-round submmission. The fight nearly is a pick’em. Pettis is -115 at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Ray is -110. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers largely are siding with Pettis to move on to the final. They have him with a big 8-3 picks lead.

At light heavyweight, No. 2 [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] (23-7-1) meets late replacement [autotag]Josh Silveira[/autotag] (9-0). Silveira was an alternate and not in the playoffs until Antonio Carlos Jr. pulled out. Silveira is a -220 favorite, but it’s Akhmedov with a 7-4 lead in the picks from our staff members.

In the other lightweight semifinal, [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] (15-5) is a -240 favorite against [autotag]Alexander Martinez[/autotag] (10-2) and he has a big 9-2 picks advantage.

And to open the main card, our only unanimous pick is in the other light heavyweight semifinal. [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] (15-2) is this week’s biggest playoff favorite at -340 against [autotag]Delan Monte[/autotag] (9-2), and he’s got an 11-0 picks shutout.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Pettis (60 percent), Silveira (59 percent), Aubin-Mercier (88 percent) and Wilkinson (74 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2022 PFL Playoffs 1.

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Anthony Pettis vs. Stevie Ray rematch headlines PFL’s playoff-opening card in New York

The lineup is set for the PFL’s first set of playoff fights next month in New York.

[autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] (25-13) remained the top lightweight seed despite an upset loss to [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] (24-10) two weeks ago. Ray’s win made him the No. 4 seed – which set up a rematch with Pettis in the four-man playoff field.

On the other side of the lightweight playoff bracket, No. 2 seed [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] (15-5) takes on No. 3 [autotag]Alexander Martinez[/autotag] (10-2). The winners of those two fights will meet in the $1 million lightweight season final in October.

In the light heavyweight playoffs, there’s been a significant shakeup. No. 3 seed [autotag]Antonio Carlos Jr.[/autotag] (15-5) is out of his fight against American Top Team teammate and No. 2 seed [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] (23-7-1), the PFL announced Friday. Stepping in for Junior is another one of Akhmedov’s teammates at American Top Team, [autotag]Josh Silveira[/autotag] (9-0), who finished the regular season in fifth place and was an alternate.

Top light heavyweight seed [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] (15-2) will take on No. 4 [autotag]Delan Monte[/autotag] (9-2) on the other half of the bracket.

The PFL’s first set of playoff fights take place Aug. 5 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. The four-fight main card of playoff matchups airs on ESPN. A two-fight set of prelims and four fights after the main card stream on ESPN+.

The playoffs continue later in August with welterweights and heavyweights on tap Aug. 13 in Cardiff, Wales, and women’s lightweights and featherweights set for Aug. 20 in London.

The PFL 2022 Playoffs 1 card includes:

POSTLIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)

[autotag]Marthin Hamlet[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Cory Hendricks[/autotag]
[autotag]Adam Keresh[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marcelo Nunes[/autotag]
[autotag]Ricardo Jimenez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Brahyan Zurcher[/autotag]
[autotag]Elvin Espinosa[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Corey Jackson[/autotag]

MAIN CARD (ESPN)

No. 1 Anthony Pettis vs. No. 4 Stevie Ray – lightweight semifinal
No. 2 Omari Akhmedov vs. No. 5 Josh Silveira – light heavyweight semifinal
No. 2 Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. N. 3 Alexander Martinez – lightweight semifinal
No. 1 Robert Wilkinson vs. No. 4 Delan Monte – light heavyweight semifinal

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)

[autotag]Elvis Lebron[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Alexei Pergande[/autotag]
[autotag]Lucas Barbosa[/autotag] vs. TBA

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2022 PFL salaries from Atlanta: Anthony Pettis tops disclosed payouts despite loss; Kayla Harrison second

This marks the first time that PFL salaries have been revealed in 2022.

The back half of the 2022 PFL regular season recently took place in Atlanta with three cards in three weeks at Overtime Elite Arena.

Each card spotlighted two specific divisions. PFL 4 took place June 17 and featured men’s lightweights and light heavyweights. One week later, PFL 5 featured featherweights and heavyweights. Last Friday, PFL 6 consisted of welterweights and women’s lightweights.

On Wednesday, MMA Junkie acquired a list of disclosed show and win purses from the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission, the regulatory body that oversaw the events.

Former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] ($750,000) led all paydays despite a submission loss to [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag]. Two-time PFL season winner [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] ($500,00) was second on the list, followed by former UFC title challenger and Bellator welterweight champion [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] ($250,000).

[autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag], [autotag]Lance Palmer[/autotag], [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag], [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag], and [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag] also received six-figure disclosed payouts.

It’s important to note that the figures given do not reflect potential “locker room” bonuses, streaming points, or promotional sponsorship payments.

Scroll below to see the complete payouts for the most recent three PFL events.