Olivier Aubin-Mercier (25-20-5) is the MMA star from Montreal who’s trying to defend his 2022 Light-weight PFL Championship and choose up one other cool $1 million within the course of. It might 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 turned a black belt in judo. “I keep in mind there was an enormous factor as a result of I didn’t wish 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 instructed 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, they usually instructed me ‘it’s important to 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 shedding finish of three fights earlier than departing from the UFC. “I believe a number of issues was mistaken, 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 all the pieces, 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 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 seems 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 approaching covid lockdowns.

He laughs that he may simply as effectively have been coaching to tackle one in all his neighbors, however thankfully for those who stay on his road, he confronted Marcin Held at PFL 4 in 2021 as a substitute, and received through unanimous resolution. In 2022, Aubin-Mercier knocked out Stevie Ray within the finals of the light-weight match 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 along with his newly earned money he was lastly in a position to 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 method to preparation on this second half of his profession. “This yr I did some damage prevention,” he explains, noting that as of late he solely does mild sparring and fairly than lifting, works quite a bit with resistance bands. After signing with the PFL, Aubin-Mercier separated along with his companion and so newly single, he was in a position to transfer nearer to the gymnasium. He credit that transfer as being extremely important in his skill to make bodily and strategical progress along with his talents in MMA.

One other huge recreation changer for Aubin-Mercier has been his utilization of the Desmotec machine. It is 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 via these actions, one can each tone and strengthen their physique whereas on the identical time build up the stabilizing muscular tissues to assist forestall damage. “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 throughout 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 will not be there, however the self-discipline is there.” Nonetheless, the fighter is making an attempt to encourage himself within the quick time period, understanding that his may very well be his remaining bow, and that Clay Collard is a really worthy opponent. “I did all the pieces in my energy to be the perfect 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 urged that this is perhaps his final struggle, interval. “Something can occur, and it’s most likely going to be my final struggle,” he shares. “I’m completely happy 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 prime could be a win.”

So, what occurs as soon as Olivier Aubin-Mercier lastly does hang-up the gloves? For one factor, the previous media scholar hopes to proceed working with the Skilled Fighters League in a communications position. Then in fact, there’s at all times that postponed battle along with his neighbors, and maybe a showdown along with his brother, ought to he ever wish to retrieve these Pokémon playing cards.

The PFL World Championship remaining takes place on Friday, Nov. 24 at 8PM ET. For extra data go to: https://pflmma.com/championship2023