WASHINGTON, D.C. – The PFL crowned its next $1 million lightweight winner Friday.
No. 1 seed Clay Collard (24-10) met No. 2 Olivier Aubin-Mercier (20-5) in the 155-pound season championship at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.
Go inside the matchup below, from the backstory and the buildup through the end of the fight itself, with stats, photos, preview videos, highlight videos, quotes, recaps and more.
The story will update throughout the fight and event.
How we got here
Collard has reached two semifinals. Now he finally has a shot at $1 million. He outworked Yamato Nishiwaka in his first fight, then knocked out Stevie Ray in the second. In the semifinals, he took a decision from Shane Burgos.
Aubin-Mercier won the 2022 lightweight season. In 2023, he outworked Burgos to open, then stopped Anthony Romero in the third round to get back to the playoffs. In the semifinals, he pounded out Bruno Miranda in the second frame.
Clay Collard vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier: Weigh-ins
MAIN EVENT IS OFFICIAL! Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs Clay Collard for the 2023 PFL Lightweight World Title!
[Fri, Nov 24th | 8pm ET on ESPN+PPV|🔗 https://t.co/9tors69QSM| #PFLWorldChampionship] pic.twitter.com/KJSWbbF3pC
— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 23, 2023
Fight Day messages
Final betting odds
Defending champ Aubin-Mercier closed as more than a 3-1 favorite to win a second straight $1 million crown.
Is this OAM's final fight?
The Last Dance for the Canadian Gangster!#PFLWorldChampionship LIVE NOW
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🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/aWd7gBImY9— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 25, 2023
Intensity from Collard
MMA's best bout machine… Clay Collard!#PFLWorldChampionship LIVE NOW
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🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/bB1SOPmoQZ— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 25, 2023
Clay Collard vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier: The fight
Records: Collard (24-10), Aubin-Mercier (20-5)
Round 1: Aubin-Mercier dominated the first round on the canvas and left Collard looking for any kind of offense while the defending champ was draped all over him.
Round 2: It was more of the same for Aubin-Mercier in the second. He found control on the canvas with relative ease and kept Collard from getting any kind of momentum or offense started.
Round 3: Aubin-Mercier was struggling with his lead leg in the third, but he got the fight back to the canvas where he could control things. Collard got back to his feet with less than two minutes left and put some pressure on and hoped to turn the tide by staying busy to get to the fourth.
Round 4: Collard started to take things over in the fourth. Aubin-Mercier continued to struggle on his lead leg, which kept him from getting Collard back to the canvas. Collard had all the momentum going to the fifth.
Round 5: With the fight potentially hanging in the balance, Collard couldn’t stop an early Aubin-Mercier takedown in the first 12 seconds. Aubin-Mercier regularly chased a submission and kept Collard from any kind of hope of a rally. Aubin-Mercier took a trio of 49-46 scorecards for his second $1 million title.
OAM has Collard's back early! Plenty of time to work still in the 1st round#PFLWorldChampionship LIVE NOW
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🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/xjYfWI79pK— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 25, 2023
Olivier Aubin-Mercier showcasing his grappling pedigree… He ends round 1 in dominant positioin#PFLWorldChampionship LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+ PPV
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🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/JEDQ9J8Lro— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 25, 2023
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
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
🍿🍿#PFLWorldChampionship LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+ PPV
🔗 https://t.co/9tors69QSM
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/W255mTFdKI— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 25, 2023
Fight stats
Stats from the Main Event. The Takedowns being the difference maker for Olivier Aubin-Mercier! Official Decision is moments away…#PFLWorldChampionship LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+ PPV
🔗 https://t.co/9tors69QSM
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/JRFJW4Fdi2— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 25, 2023
The aftermath
Aubin-Mercier won his second straight $1 million lightweight crown. After the PFL purchased Bellator, champ-vs.-champ fights have been promised, which sets Aubin-Mercier up for a bout against Bellator’s lightweight champ, Usman Nurmagomedov.
But Aubin-Mercier said he’ll take some time off to be with his family. He didn’t say it was a retirement, but he had hinted at that leading up to the fight.
Winner post-fight interview
Congratulations to the Canadian Gangster! Back-to-Back Tabarnak 🇨🇦#PFLWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/lqTktCU6zX
— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 25, 2023
PFL's 2023 champions
Here they are your 2023 PFL World Champions! 3 new 2x Champions and 3 New 1st time Champions! Another season in the books!#PFLWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/H3uQQCoeMK
— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 25, 2023
