Olivier Aubin-Mercier doesn’t think Shane Burgos has the fighting style to win the PFL season.
2022 lightweight champ Aubin-Mercier will welcome UFC veteran Burgos to the PFL when the pair square off in the 2023 PFL 3 headliner on April 14 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.
Aubin-Mercier (17-5) admits a matchup such as Burgos (15-3) makes him nervous but says his fan-favorite style won’t pay off in the PFL.
“Am I scared for Shane Burgos? Yes I am,” Aubin-Mercier told MMA Junkie Radio. “I do not think he’s going to win the tournament. Even though he was the best in the tournament, I do not think he’s gonna win the tournament because he’s too – he takes risks. He’s really a showman.
“He likes to be in traffic, he likes to throw a lot of punches, he’s taking a lot of punches too, and I think in PFL it’s gonna be really hard. I think he’s going to have some difficulties to adjust. I think he’s going to have to change his style a little bit. But with that being said, I’m going to fight the best Shane Burgos out there.”
On the contrary, Aubin-Mercier’s grappling heavy approach has paid off. He knows it’s not the most exciting, but the 34-year-old Canadian says he’s solely concerned with getting his hand raised.
“My goal is not to be the most entertaining fighter out there,” Aubin-Mercier said. “There’s a lot more people that are willing to do that and sacrifice their health to do that. My goal is to win. I change my style for sure every year, but truly my goal is to win.
“Last year my fight with Manfio wasn’t the most entertaining one. It was probably the most boring fight ever, but my goal was to win this fight, and personally, I don’t mind that. For sure for fans maybe it’s not the best thing, but my goal is to be the best that I can be.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s even hub for 2023 PFL 3.
