Two iconic Canadian players at very different points in their careers faced off in the main event of the 2023 PFL Card 6 on Friday in Atlanta, Georgia.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier was the 2022 PFL Lightweight Champion, and has been undefeated in seven fights since splitting from the UFC in 2018. Anthony Romero has been the man who has been overlooked twice on the big show – first in Dana White Rivalry Series And earlier this year on PFL Challenge Series. But after a place in the season opened up due to injury, the 26-year-old Romero now has the biggest opportunity of his career.
She was given a polite (very Canadian) glove touch by Romero launching a kick to the body early in the PFL 6 main event. Later on, Romero went down with a kick, touching the front leg of Aubin Mercier, who had taken up a position, and kept Romero on the fence . Less than 90 seconds, and OAM appeared to hurt Romero with a right hook. Moments later, a jab landed the champion, but Romero clipped Aubin Mercier with a kick!
Romero pressed forward after that, with OAM still in the clinch. They broke, and Romero kicked a forehand kick that missed; Aubin-Mercier landed a right hook again. Kicks were clearly a heavy part of Romero’s game plan, but in the back half of the round Aubin-Mercier pushed his hands, landing several powerful jabs on the Canadian compatriot.
The second round opened with Romero throwing another high kick that was saved by Aubin Mercier. OAM then unleashed a high kick in return, taking a knee to the body moments later. Did not fall clean. OAM then pulled back on a big swing by Romero. With nothing to lose, it might be wise for Romero to chase the knockout, given he needed points to have any hope of making the postseason. Instead, Aubin-Mercier found more success on his feet, until an accidental clash of heads stopped the action near the halfway mark.
A short timeout, and they went again, with Aubin-Mercier kicking high, and Romero losing his backhand grip. Surprisingly, neither man may have shown any tendency to shoot for a takedown during the first half of the fight. Around the 90-second mark, another accidental clash of heads occurred, cutting Romero small.
Two powerful kicks were traded at the start of the second half, when a third header was ruled, again accidental, that stopped the action almost immediately. The referee warned both men to watch their heads, and both seemed to bounce a bit in their step as they got to work again.
In the third round, Olivier Aubin-Mercier left nothing to chance. After a second full of spoilage, OAM unleashed a kick to the head that saw the knee hook flush into Romero’s temple. Aubain-Mercier followed up with one punch as the referee entered and called him! Aubin Mercier at the end of the third round had four points; He would rematch Nathan Schulte in the semi-final, while Clay Collard would face Bruno Miranda in the other semi-final match.
Canadian gangster stuff. #2023PFL6 pic.twitter.com/vAj6J1TTef
– Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) June 24, 2023
Official result: Olivier Aubin Mercier won. Anthony Romero by knockout (knee), third round, 0:28