Olivier Aubin-Mercier Thinks PFL Season Could Be Difficult for Shane Burgos’ Style

Defending Professional Fighters League lightweight champion Olivier Aubin-Mercier will get first crack at prized free-agent signing Shane Burgos.

Aubin-Mercier vs. Burgos will serve as the featured bout for PFL 3: 2023 Regular Season at the Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas on Friday. The main card airs early on ESPN and ESPN+ beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. It will be Burgos’ PFL debut after compiling an 8-3 mark in the UFC.

While Aubin-Mercier is well aware of his opponent’s entertaining fighting style, he thinks that could work against Burgos during the grind of the PFL season, which requires more activity than a typical MMA schedule.

“I think it’s gonna be tough for him since he’s kind of a kamikazee in the ring,” Aubin-Mercier said during a PFL media day. “He’s a really fun fighter. He has a big heart. PFL is four fights in eight months, so I think it’s gonna be tough for his style. Everybody is gonna tune in to see the fight and see him fight. I’m looking forward to it.”

For Aubin-Mercier, the turnaround from winning the 2022 lightweight title came a little quicker than he might have liked.

“I don’t even know if I have the focus right now,” he quipped. “It was really fast in between the two seasons, faster than I thought. I went right back to it. I did my homework, but it was really fast.”

With that in mind, he found it difficult to make any significant improvements during the offseason.

“I didn’t add anything. You don’t have time really to train between the two seasons,” he said. “I still watch a lot of video. I study the game. To tell you that I really improved between the two seasons, I don’t think it would be true.”

Aubin-Mercier might not have had too much time to unwind, but an opponent like Burgos makes it easier to get motivated.

“I mean, he’s crazy. He’s truly crazy. He’s going for broke,” Aubin-Mercier said. “I think he’s a dangerous fighter. He has a good skill set and his boxing is really good. But he has weaknesses too. I think it’s an interesting matchup. For me, it’s motivating.”