Canada’s most notorious gangster (not really) has signed with the PFL (yes really). Olivier Aubin-Mercier announced the news on ESPN Wednesday as part of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Podcast.
The signing sees the merit-backed league, with year-long tournaments and million-dollar prizes, bolster the Canadian portion of its ranks.
Welcome to PFL, @oliaubin! 🇨🇦
Full audio via @arielhelwani / @espnmma #HelwaniShow https://t.co/LfXDzGwGvv pic.twitter.com/Sr9066qESl
— PFL MMA (@ProFightLeague) March 5, 2020
Last season, Jesse Ronson, Sarah Kaufman, and Bobbi-Jo Dalziel represented the red and white inside the PFL. But during this off-season the league has picked up both OAM and Rory MacDonald. That’s a solid one-two punch if the promotion decides to head north of the border for a show, which feels like a very real possibility.
There’s no word on the status of Kaufman and Dalziel, mind you. Ronson recently fought for Ontario’s BTC promotion, earning his first win since the PFL last year.
As for Aubin-Mercier, the lightweight joins the PFL after hitting a three-fight skid inside the octagon. OAM started his UFC tenure strong, going 7-1 after losing on the TUF: Nations finale to Chad Laprise in 2014. But the quirky French-Canadian then ran into Alexander Hernandez, Gilbert Burns, and Arman Tsarukyan. He also fought out his UFC deal, making him a free agent — but one on a skid.
He’ll look to bounce back in the PFL cage, and capture a million bucks in the process. This week, the PFL announced that all six 2019 champions would return for the 2020 season: Kayla Harrison, Lance Palmer, Natan Schulte, Ray Cooper III, Emiliano Sordi, and Ali Isaev.
Other competitors for the 2020 tournament have yet to be announced. Schulte won the lightweight tournament, which is where Aubin-Mercier is expected to compete.
