Olivier Aubin-Mercier overcame adversity, including a leg injury, to beat Clay Collard and become a two-time lightweight champion in the PFL World Championship 2023, earning a $1 million prize and announcing plans for an extended break before potentially facing Bellator lightweight king Usman Nurmagomedov.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier put on an impressive performance to win the PFL World Championship 2023 main event and become a two-time lightweight champion. He fought through a potential leg injury and battled Clay Collard for the title. Despite dealing with the injury, Aubin-Mercier was able to control Collard on the ground for large portions of the fight.
In the end, Aubin-Mercier won the fight with all three judges scoring the fight 49-46 in his favor. He improved to 10-0 in the PFL and secured another $1 million prize to add to his bank account. Following the fight, Aubin-Mercier announced plans to take an extended break heading into 2024, expressing his gratitude to PFL for believing in him.
If this turns out to be his last fight, Aubin-Mercier can look back at the adversity he overcame after battling through a leg injury that severely affected his movement. He dominated the fight with his wrestling and grappling control but had to deal with Collard’s aggressive offense, particularly his calf kicks that caused damage to Aubin-Mercier’s leg.
Due to Aubin-Mercier’s well-deserved break, a potential champion versus champion showdown against Usman Nurmagomedov won’t happen anytime soon. Nevertheless, Aubin-Mercier’s victory in the title fight showcases his resilience and hard-fought season in the PFL.