Olivier Aubin-Mercier (25-20-5) is the MMA star from Montreal who’s seeking to defend his 2022 Light-weight PFL Championship and choose up one other cool $1 million within the course of. It will be a fairytale ending to a stellar 20 yr plus profession that has examined him to each psychological and bodily limits.
And, in a dialog with M&F, Aubin-Mercier means that he intends for the 2023 PFL Championship showdown with Clay Collard (24-10-0) to be his last-ever combat. Now, deep into coaching and simply days away from that judgement day on Nov. 24, Aubin-Mercier displays on his profession and explains how his coaching has matured.
The 34-year-old tells M&F that he was 15 or 16 when he grew to become a black belt in judo. “I keep in mind there was an enormous factor as a result of I didn’t need to do the examination to get the black belt,” recollects Aubin-Mercier. “So, I used to be a brown belt for a very, actually very long time they usually advised me they by no means would give me the black belt as a result of I used to be too lazy to be taught the identify’s of the methods. To recollect it, I used to be too lazy to do this, they usually advised me ‘you must do it,’ after which I received the (Canadian) Nationwide Championship as a brown belt, my (judo coach) didn’t prefer it, (however) they gave me my black belt,” laughs the a number of medal winner. “After I give it some thought, I used to be slightly douchebag,” he jokes.
Whereas the self-professed “Canadian Gangster” is laid again and many enjoyable to speak to, he actually hasn’t been lazy as an MMA fighter. Aubin-Mercier made his debut in 2011 and in regional promotions throughout Quebec, completed his first 4 opponents off by submission. By 2014 he’d made the finals of “The Final Fighter Nations” collection and whereas he was unsuccessful within the finale, he went on to rack up 11 wins within the UFC.
Sadly, 2018-2019 noticed Aubin-Mercier on the dropping finish of three fights earlier than departing from the UFC. “I believe loads of issues was unsuitable, you recognize?” displays the fighter. “First, I believe I didn’t develop as I ought to have, since I went to UFC too quickly. However with COVID and the whole lot, it gave me a while to actually enhance in order that’s the very first thing. The second factor, I believe mentally, I used to be not there. Particularly within the final three fights. I believe I used to be elsewhere, and never in a very good place, you recognize? And that modified. I fell again in love with coaching.”
Olivier Aubin-Mercier revived his MMA profession after falling again in love with coaching
Mercier says that when he seems to be again on his losses within the UFC, he can pinpoint the failings to tactical error. “They had been higher than me at that time and that’s it,” he says, completely at peace with studying from these experiences. Aubin-Mercier signed with the Skilled Fighters League in March 2020, and fell again in love with coaching, however he jokes that he didn’t have anybody to combat at that time due to the upcoming covid lockdowns.
He laughs that he may simply as nicely have been coaching to tackle considered one of his neighbors, however luckily for those who reside on his road, he confronted Marcin Held at PFL 4 in 2021 as an alternative, and received through unanimous choice. In 2022, Aubin-Mercier knocked out Stevie Ray within the finals of the light-weight match to select up the championship and a million-dollar-payday. As a child, he’d dreamed of investing cash into profitable Pokémon playing cards, and along with his newly earned money he was lastly capable of make such purchases, though he then gifted them to his brother.
Whereas the Canadian Gangster had beforehand been a fan of circuit coaching and arduous sparring, he now takes a totally completely different method to preparation on this second half of his profession. “This yr I did some harm prevention,” he explains, noting that nowadays he solely does gentle sparring and reasonably than lifting, works loads with resistance bands. After signing with the PFL, Aubin-Mercier separated along with his accomplice and so newly single, he was capable of transfer nearer to the gymnasium. He credit that transfer as being extremely important in his capacity to make bodily and strategical progress along with his skills in MMA.
One other huge recreation changer for Aubin-Mercier has been his utilization of the Desmotec machine. This can be a system that has been designed to enhance rehabilitation whereas rising efficiency. It offers ranges of resistance that require the topic to push and pull, usually to timed applications. The concept is that by these actions, one can each tone and strengthen their physique whereas on the identical time increase the stabilizing muscle tissues to assist forestall harm. “That’s my conditioning,” he says. “It’s nothing loopy, I finished operating too, as a result of the day(s) after operating I used to be not feeling nice with my knees.”
Olivier says he’ll go away all of it within the cage in the course of the 2023 PFL Championship
“I get pleasure from being a part of the PFL, however I don’t get pleasure from this yr, you recognize?” says the defending champ. “I’m getting drained. My motivation is just not there, however the self-discipline is there.” Nonetheless, the fighter is attempting to inspire himself within the brief time period, realizing that his may very well be his remaining bow, and that Clay Collard is a really worthy opponent. “I did the whole lot in my energy to be the most effective model of myself for this combat, like I did in each different combat earlier than … that’s why I’m going to take a break. Most likely, it’s going to be the final combat this yr.” The truth is, Olivier Aubin-Mercier steered that this could be his final combat, interval. “Something can occur, and it’s most likely going to be my final combat,” he shares. “I’m comfortable that’s going to be my final combat, realizing that I’ve by no means been this good, however with that being mentioned, the cherry on prime can be a win.”
So, what occurs as soon as Olivier Aubin-Mercier lastly does hang-up the gloves? For one factor, the previous media pupil hopes to proceed working with the Skilled Fighters League in a communications function. Then after all, there’s all the time that postponed battle along with his neighbors, and maybe a showdown along with his brother, ought to he ever need to retrieve these Pokémon playing cards.
The PFL World Championship remaining takes place on Friday, Nov. 24 at 8PM ET. For extra info go to: https://pflmma.com/championship2023
