[autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] still feels the shame of being suspended for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, but he hopes winning the 2024 PFL Championship will put all that in the past.
After winning the 2022 PFL light heavyweight season, Wilkinson (20-2) saw his attempt to go back-to-back end in disgraceful fashion when he was flagged for an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio and suspended for nine months.
He returned for the 2024 season, and has since put together consecutive victories to get a birth in the playoffs. He will attempt to secure his spot in the $1 million final on Friday, when he takes on Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (23-7-1) in a 2024 PFL Playoffs 2 semifinal bout at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla., and airs on ESPN/ESPN+.
Wilkinson, 32, has already had much time to sort through the errors of his ways, and although he’s achieved some degree of redemption by making it this far, he thinks his arch won’t be complete until he’s once again crowned champion.
“That was a big mistake, and I’m not proud of the choices I made,” Wilkinson told MMA Junkie Radio. “That’s what happened, and I got suspended for that time, and I took that time to recover mentally and physically. Now I’m just back, motivated to win another world title, and so far, so good. Two fights, two wins and two more to go.
“The first fight back was really good to get out there and prove I can get a dominant knockout in the first 90 seconds of the fight and show that nothing has changed. This is the fighter I am, and I’m aggressive, and I’m looking for the finish at all times. After not fighting for a year, there was more of the pressure to have the chip on my shoulder and go out there and prove how good I am. I feel like now I’ve had a fight and another fight since then and put that behind me, and now I’m just focusing on being the best fighter I can be and get back that world championship.”
Wilkinson’s clash with Yagshimuradov will come minutes before the other light heavyweight semifinal, which sees 2023 season champion Impa Kasanganay take on Josh Silveira.
If Wilkinson had his way, Kasanganay (17-4) would emerge from that matchup with Silveira (13-3), because in his mind, it’s the most significant final that PFL could have.
“I still think Impa’s probably going to win it, and I want him to win it only because me and Impa are the last two years’ champions,” Wilkinson said. “Fighting each other for the first time for the world championship is the biggest fight I can have at the moment, so I think that’s an exciting fight for PFL. And exciting fight for us.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL Playoffs 2.