Olivier Aubin-Mercier had previously hinted that he would be taking a hiatus from mixed martial arts following the conclusion of the 2023 Professional Fighters League season.
Now his absence will likely be much longer than that.
Aubin-Mercier officially announced his retirement on Wednesday in a post on his Instagram account.
“Feeling incredibly grateful today as I hang up my gloves, I must give a massive shout out to [the PFL],” he wrote. “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.”
Aubin-Mercier earned his second consecutive lightweight title at the PFL Championships last week, as he took a five-round verdict over Clay Collard in the evening’s main event. “The Canadian Gangster” signed with the PFL on the heels of three consecutive losses in the UFC. He turned things around in his new home, winning 10 straight fights and a pair of 155-pound championships in PFL competition.
Aubin-Mercier exits the sport with a 21-5 mark after beginning his professional tenure in 2011. The Tristar Gym representative secured notable wins over the likes of Collard, Shane Burgos, Steven Ray, Natan Schulte, Marcin Held, Evan Dunham and Drew Dober over the course of his career.
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