Anthony Romero says Olivier Aubin-Mercier not just fighting a nobody at 2023 PFL 6: 'I've been in this game for a while'

Anthony Romero plans on introducing himself in a big way at 2023 PFL 6.

Romero (12-1) meets 2022 PFL lightweight champion Olivier Aubin-Mercier (18-5) in the main event on June 23 at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta.

Romero was victorious on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020, but he wasn’t awarded a UFC contract. The UFC president encouraged other promotions to pick up then-unbeaten Romero, who eventually found himself competing in the PFL Challenger Series this past February. Unfortunately for Romero, that wasn’t enough to award him a contract either, until he got the call to face Aubin-Mercier – an opportunity he isn’t taking lightly.

“The goal is to win,” Romero told MMA Junkie Radio. “Regardless of what outside situations there are for other guys, I love to play my style, and if I have to go out there and get the six points and give everything I got, then I’ll do my best. A lot of people are like, ‘Oh, you don’t have much to lose.’ Yeah, I don’t, but I love to win.

“That’s the problem is I don’t want to go out there and just try and then fail. I want to go out there and give everything I got, put my heart into this game, and I’m not going there to just allow him to go to the playoffs and he’s just fighting this nobody. I’m somebody. I’ve been in this game for a while. Like I said, six points is great, but the win is sweet for me.”

Aubin-Mercier is unbeaten since joining the PFL, using a grappling heavy approach for the most part to suffocate his opponents. While Romero doesn’t view Aubin-Mercier as the most entertaining fighter, he credits him for his IQ.

“He plays a very smart game,” Romero said. “The rules of the PFL play in his favor against guys – especially guys coming from the UFC, they’re kind of taught to be entertaining and look for the big finishes, take risks.

“You hear Dana all the time crapping on people about not looking for the finish, just playing it safe, and I feel like OAM (Aubin-Mercier) does that. He plays it safe to get those points and make it to the playoffs and not take those big risks. Who knows what his plan is now, but I’m expecting the best guy as my opponent.”