“I have no motivation. I’m unmotivated Oli, man,” Olivier Aubin-Mercier drops with a smile.
Obviously, this quote deserves some context.
Aubin-Mercier met the media Tuesday morning at Gym H2O ahead of his August 23 fight in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) semi-finals. If he wins, it will be final direction. Who says final says another $1 million check within reach – he won his first championship in November 2022.
This check, and especially the title of double champion that comes with it, is quite the carrot that dangles at the end of the stick for the 34-year-old fighter.
Warning: Aubin-Mercier still enjoys training. He goes to the gym every day. He still gives his 100%. He does his homework.
It is the weeks of combat, quite frequent in PFL, which no longer motivate him.
“There’s still anxiety in it, though,” he explains. I’m going to fight in front of my family, I have a daughter. My parents are happy, but they’re not so excited to see me fight. »
“And the waiting… That’s what’s tough about being an athlete, you can’t do anything. I haven’t had any friends for two years, I cut my weight every month and a half, I don’t drink anymore, I don’t go out anymore. I really liked good restaurants, good wines… This is no longer possible. Everything leading up to that week, I start tripping less. »
But why go on, then? “For the cash,” he replies point-blank.
We quickly understand, however, that it is not so much the money that attracts him… as what the money brings.
“In reality, cash is crap,” he says. It does not change much, except peace of mind. I already have peace of mind. It’s a bonus this year.
“[Money] is time,” he adds later. I’m buying myself time right now. Time to spend with my family, to be happy. That’s why I do this sport. Not just for that, but a little for that. »
Those who follow Aubin-Mercier know that he does not have his tongue in his pocket. He himself hates pre-chewed answers. He stands out for his charming and disconcerting honesty. As his coach of the past 15 years, Richard Ho, tells us, “Olivier is special, he’s different from everyone else.” That’s “what makes it great,” he adds.
You will never hear Aubin-Mercier tell you that he has never been so ready in his life for a fight. Or make it seem like boot camp is easy.
“All kinds of motivational stuff, I always thought that was cheesy. I always see a certain weakness in my opponents when they say that in the next fight they will no longer be 13-1, but 14-1. They are trying to motivate themselves for something they have no control over except training. »
For those wondering, the likeable athlete wasn’t always so detached. This is work he has done in recent years, especially since the pandemic, he explains to us.
“I was having anxiety attacks four or five years ago when I was in the UFC. It was wrong. I was not happy. But I worked on myself, there are things that I understood. Maybe there are things that we think are super important and, when we look at the eyes of others, in the end, it is insignificant. »
The Quebecer also specifies that he likes to be challenged by amateurs. The positive comments touch him. It’s those who are negative that sink a little more on his back. “There, I say that, but I will look at the comments [under your articles] and say to myself: tabarnak! “, he exclaims in a burst of laughter.
Aubin-Mercier will face Bruno Miranda on August 23 at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City. A “dangerous guy”, according to the Quebecer, but less “cerebral” than him. The fight “should go well,” he believes.
This duel, if he wins, will obviously be his penultimate. Because Aubin-Mercier is pretty adamant his career will end after the next championship.
Except maybe if they make him an offer he can’t refuse, like a fight in Montreal.
“There is also something poetic about fighting one last time in front of the world that loves you, that you love. Well, that’s still cool. If I see that it does not tempt me there, I will not do it. I’m just trying to say that I’m not going to put any pressure on myself. »
A few years ago, Aubin-Mercier wrote down his goals in a notebook. His ultimate goal was to win the championship. He did it.
In that same notebook appeared his three commandments: passion, motivation, and health. If one of the three was no longer there one day, it would be a sign that the time has come to hang up his gloves.
“There, it’s been eight months since one of the cases is gone. I think it’s time. »
