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 could 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 struggle. 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 and so they 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 title’s of the methods. To recollect it, I used to be too lazy to do this, and so they advised me ‘you need to do it,’ after which I gained 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. “Once I give it some thought, I used to be a little bit douchebag,” he jokes.
Whereas the self-professed “Canadian Gangster” is laid again and plenty of enjoyable to speak to, he definitely 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” sequence 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 a number of issues was flawed, you already know?” 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 every part, it gave me a while to essentially 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 an excellent place, you already know? 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 appears to be like again on his losses within the UFC, he can pinpoint the failings to tactical error. “They have 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 struggle at that time due to the upcoming covid lockdowns.
He laughs that he might simply as effectively have been coaching to tackle one in all his neighbors, however happily for people who stay on his road, he confronted Marcin Held at PFL 4 in 2021 as an alternative, and gained by way of unanimous resolution. In 2022, Aubin-Mercier knocked out Stevie Ray within the finals of the light-weight event to choose up the championship and a million-dollar-payday. As a child, he’d dreamed of investing cash into profitable Pokémon playing cards, and together 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 laborious sparring, he now takes a totally completely different strategy to preparation on this second half of his profession. “This yr I did some harm prevention,” he explains, noting that today he solely does mild sparring and reasonably than lifting, works rather a lot with resistance bands. After signing with the PFL, Aubin-Mercier separated together with his companion and so newly single, he was capable of transfer nearer to the health club. He credit that transfer as being extremely vital in his skill to make bodily and strategical progress together 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 machine that has been designed to enhance rehabilitation whereas growing efficiency. It offers ranges of resistance that require the topic to push and pull, usually to timed applications. The thought is that by means of these actions, one can each tone and strengthen their physique whereas on the similar time increase the stabilizing muscle tissues to assist forestall harm. “That’s my conditioning,” he says. “It’s nothing loopy, I ended working too, as a result of the day(s) after working I used to be not feeling nice with my knees.”
Olivier says he’ll depart all of it within the cage through the 2023 PFL Championship
“I get pleasure from being a part of the PFL, however I don’t get pleasure from this yr, you already know?” says the defending champ. “I’m getting drained. My motivation just isn’t there, however the self-discipline is there.” Nonetheless, the fighter is attempting to inspire himself within the quick time period, understanding that his could possibly be his last bow, and that Clay Collard is a really worthy opponent. “I did every part in my energy to be one of the best model of myself for this struggle, like I did in each different struggle earlier than … that’s why I’m going to take a break. In all probability, it’s going to be the final struggle this yr.” Actually, Olivier Aubin-Mercier steered that this could be his final struggle, interval. “Something can occur, and it’s in all probability going to be my final struggle,” he shares. “I’m pleased that’s going to be my final struggle, understanding that I’ve by no means been this good, however with that being stated, the cherry on high 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 position. Then in fact, there’s all the time that postponed battle together with his neighbors, and maybe a showdown together with his brother, ought to he ever need to retrieve these Pokémon playing cards.
The PFL World Championship last takes place on Friday, Nov. 24 at 8PM ET. For extra data go to: https://pflmma.com/championship2023