2023-06-24 04:06:00
Defending PFL lightweight champion Olivier Aubin-Mercier was knocked out. to fellow Canadian Anthony Romero in the third round on Friday night to advance to the playoffs.
Aubin-Mercier (19-5) hit Romero (12-2) with a violent knee to the chin 28 seconds from the start of the third round.
This victory in his second and last fight of the regular season allows him to take second place in the division. In the semi-finals he will face Brazilian Natan Schulte, who beat Raush Manfio by decision earlier in the evening. The other semi-final will feature American Clay Collard and Brazilian Bruno Miranda.
Aubin-Mercier rattled Romero with a right early in the fight, but his rival quickly came to his senses and returned the courtesy moments later with a kick to the chin.
Aubin-Mercier then had the upper hand in the second half of the first round, hitting the target with a few combinations, but Romero showed he might take punches.
Romero fared better in the second round, which was interrupted briefly three times due to head clashes between the two fighters.
Determined not to leave the result in the hands of the judges, Aubin-Mercier then finished the job with his devastating knee kick at the start of the third round.
In the final last year, the Quebecer got his hands on the title and the million dollars that comes with passing the K.-O. to Stevie Ray.
In the penultimate fight of the gala, reigning welterweight champion Sadibou Sy (15-6) passed the K.-O. to Shane Mitchell (13-6) with a hard kick to the head in the third round and advanced to the playoffs for the fifth straight year.
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