Olivier Aubin-Mercier announces his retirement from MMA after winning second PFL title

Olivier Aubin-Mercier has decided to call it a career.

Fresh off his second straight PFL title win, the 34-year-old French Canadian fighter announced his retirement after first contemplating an extended break from action. Aubin-Mercier capped off his career with a win over Clay Collard in the 2023 PFL Championship main event but now he’s walking away from the sport for good.

“Feeling incredibly grateful today as I hang up my gloves, I must give a massive shout-out to PFL,” Aubin-Mercier wrote on Instagram. “PFL believed in me. They recognized a fighter in a kid from Quebec who just wouldn’t quit. It has been an honor to step into the cage under their banner.

“As I move on from competition, I hope that the path I’ve trodden serves as an invitation to other Quebecois fighters. May you find in the PFL the same support, the same faith, and the same opportunities to showcase our Québécois tenacity. To everyone behind the scenes who has been part of this journey—merci from the bottom of my heart. I had so much fun with you guys, even though I was probably a massive douchebag during those fight weeks. It’s been the fight of a lifetime. Here’s to the next round, whatever it may be! PFL, you’ve been the corner team everyone deserves. Merci pour tout.”

After a 4-0 start to his career, Aubin-Mercier was thrust into the spotlight after he joined the cast of The Ultimate Fighter: Nations, which pit his home country of Canada against Australia. He came up just short of winning the season after dropping a razor-close split decision to Chad Laprise in the finals but he still got the call to join the UFC roster.

For the next five years, Aubin-Mercier competed in the UFC while compiling a 7-4 record overall including wins over Drew Dober and Evan Dunham. His exit from the promotion came after three straight losses but it didn’t take him long to find a new fighting home after the PFL added him to its lightweight division.

Aubin-Mercier never tasted defeat again.

In his 10 fights with the PFL, Aubin-Mercier went undefeated while claiming two championship victories with each giving him a $1 million prize. He scored three knockouts during that long win streak while beating names such as UFC veteran Shane Burgos and past PFL champions Raush Manfio and Natan Schulte.

Following his win over Collard this past Friday night, Aubin-Mercier hinted at retirement but he didn’t make the final decision until days later as he calls it a career. He retires with a 21-5 record overall.