Olivier Aubin-Mercier captured back-to-back PFL lightweight championships as he claimed the 2023 title with a hard-earned unanimous decision victory over Clay Collard at the 2023 PFL World Championship in Washington DC.
The event, which took place at The Anthem in the US capital, saw six million-dollar champions crowned on a packed night of fights, with Aubin-Mercier’s victory capping off a big night for the promotion, which has huge plans for expansion in 2024 following the recent acquisition of Bellator MMA.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier has been unstoppable since making his PFL debut in 2021. OAM emphatically knocked out Stevie Ray in last year’s World Championships card to claim PFL gold — Aubin-Mercier’s first piece of gold in a major MMA organization. On a mission to join a very small group of PFL fighters who have won PFL gold in back-to-back years, Aubin-Mercier defeated Shane Burgos and Anthony Romero in the regular season before advancing to tonight’s title fight with a second-round TKO of Bruno Miranda. Aubin-Mercier has been honest this week about thinking of retirement; if tonight marks his last fight, can he go out on top with another PFL World Title?
A dangerous and hard-hitting boxer, Clay Collard has always made his fights competitive and entertaining. After reaching the semifinals in 2021 and missing the playoffs in 2022, Collard finally makes it to his first world title fight. This season saw Collard defeat Yamato Nishikawa and Ray before a win over Shane Burgos in the semifinals.
Can OAM earn PFL gold for the second time? Or can Collard finally earn the PFL world title he’s been longing for?
Round 1 – Aubin-Mercier looks to come forward, but Collard comes out right away with low kicks. Small combination by Collard as he attacks the lead leg. Aubin-Mercier tries to start a couple of combinations but Collard hits the front leg with a low kick each time. Left hand by OAM. And another. Collard lands a sharp right but misses a calf kick. OAM lands a kick to the body and scores a takedown. OAM gets to Collard’s back 90 seconds into the round but Collard is able to bring the fight back to the feet. OAM drives Collard to his head as Collard tries to roll through. OAM with a knee as he brings the fight back down. Aubin-Mercier gets to Collard’s back again and locks a triangle body lock, looking to secure a rear-naked choke.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier showcasing his grappling pedigree… He ends round 1 in dominant positioin#PFLWorldChampionship LIVE NOW
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🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/JEDQ9J8Lro— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 25, 2023
Round 2- Collard looks to resume the calf kick attacks. OAM pressing forward. High kick from Aubin-Mercier. Right hand by Aubin-Mercier. Front kick from OAM. Collard works the body, followed by a low kick. OAM tries to lock up Collard’s body, but it appears OAM couldn’t get it after stepping wrong — or if his right leg was damaged too much already from Collard’s leg kicks. Aubin-Mercier gets Collard’s back to the fence. Collard trying to work the body on the inside. OAM shoots in and scores another takedown.
High Kick from OAM in opening seconds of the 2nd round!#PFLWorldChampionship LIVE NOW
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🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/fpvagk969O— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 25, 2023
Round 3 – Collard tries to work OAM’s body and get Aubin-Mercier’s back to the fence. OAM tries to shoot in but Collard keeps a hold of his neck. OAM shoots again for a body lock and he’s able to score another takedown in the round’s opening minute. OAM quickly gets himself into the mount and postures up. Collard looked to escape from half-guard and was able to do so. That said, OAM was relentless in pressure and brought him back down quickly.
Clay Collard coming back in the 3rd round. Championship rounds up now#PFLWorldChampionship LIVE NOW
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🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/G3qugmWdT5— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 25, 2023
Round 5 – Collard cracks OAM with a right hand to start the round! Aubin-Mercier, however, secures a takedown quickly and gets right back to Collard’s back. That was all in the first 15 seconds! OAM has a body triangle in but is riding high on Collard. Aubin-Mercier has Collard locked up. Fans get restless over a lack of action. OAM, while riding high in a backpack position, landing to the head of Collard. Aubin-Mercier lands some shots but can’t get much progress toward breaking Collard’s defenses. Aubin-Mercier brings Collard back in a flat position.
Under the chin!#PFLWorldChampionship LIVE NOW
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🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/dFXPaDBCte— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 25, 2023
It meant the bout went into the final round with the fight hanging in the balance, and the commentary team suggesting the fight could be level at two rounds apiece. Collard opened up with a big punch that connected clean, but Aubin-Mercier took the shot well and scored a takedown. With the action back on the mat, OAM took Collard’s back and locked up a rear-naked choke, but Collard stayed calm and eventually worked his way free of the hold.
OAM stayed on Collard’s back and maintained position while looking to re-apply the choke. But while Collard did well to fend off the choke attempt, he was unable to escape Aubin-Mercier’s clutches as the fight went all the way to the judges’ scorecards. All three judges scored the bout 49-46 to Aubin-Mercier, who gave an emotional post-fight speech as he hailed the PFL as “the future” and thanking them for being the “only ones” who believed in him. He was then asked about his fighting future, and he revealed that he would take a break from the sport to spend some time with his family. He had previously said that this season would be his last in the PFL’s season format, but with the inception of the PFL’s pay-per-view Super Fights events, plus the addition of one-off Bellator shows, the door might still be open for Aubin-Mercier to return. But, for now, “The Canadian Gangster” rides off into the sunset as a back-to-back champion.
