After seeing their previous matchup scratched due to weight-cutting issues, lightweights Olivier Aubin-Mercier and Gilbert Burns will finally lock horns at UFC 231 on Dec. 8 from inside Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, per a recent announcement by UFC (originally reported by MMA Brasil)
Aubin-Mercier, 29, is coming off a tough loss opposite rising lightweight prospect Alexander Hernandez last month. It was a grueling fight for the Canadian grappler, especially considering Hernandez outworked him on the ground. The defeat snapped a four-fight win streak for Aubin-Mercier, which included finishes over UFC veterans Evan Dunham, Drew Dober, and Thibault Gouti. “Canadian Gangster” will look to end 2018 on a good note and improve his overall UFC record to 8-3 in the process.
Burns, 32, is coming off a crushing knockout defeat at the hands of streaking lightweight contender Dan Hooker back at UFC 226 this past July. While “Durinho” has amassed a respectable 6-3 UFC record with four impressive finishes along the way, the Brazilian submission specialist hasn’t quite lived up to the hype since making his debut four years ago. Burns has all the ingredients to get back into the win column and make his move back up the lightweight ladder, but he’ll have to start from scratch against one of the toughest guys in the division.
UFC 231 currently has no main event in place, but could very well feature a memorable homecoming for mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Georges St-Pierre.
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