Tag: Rob Wilkinson

PFL announces 2025 heavyweight and light heavyweight tournament participants

Check out the full list of participants for the 2025 PFL heavyweight and light heavyweight tournaments.

The fighters competing on this year’s PFL heavyweight and light heavyweight tournaments are set.

PFL announced on Wednesday the eight fighters that will be competing in each respective weight class, along with alternate names for the 205-pound division.

At heavyweight, most notably former interim Bellator champion [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] and recent signee in UFC veteran [autotag]Alexander Romanov[/autotag] will be participating. And at light heavyweight, former Bellator champion and UFC veteran [autotag]Phil Davis[/autotag] will be competing alongside former PFL champions [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] and [autotag]Antonio Carlos Jr.[/autotag]

Below is the full list of fighters set to participate in the two biggest weight classes for the PFL 2025 tournaments.

Heavyweight:

  • Valentin Moldavsky (13-4)
  • Alexander Romanov (18-3)
  • [autotag]Oleg Popov[/autotag] (19-2)
  • [autotag]Linton Vassell[/autotag] (25-10)
  • [autotag]Sergey Bilostenniy[/autotag] (13-3)
  • [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] (18-11)
  • [autotag]Pouya Rahmani[/autotag] (4-0)
  • [autotag]Abraham Bably[/autotag] (5-1)

https://www.instagram.com/p/DG0tYhgp8Iz/?img_index=1

Light heavyweight:

  • Phil Davis (24-7)
  • Rob Wilkinson (19-3)
  • [autotag]Karl Moore[/autotag] (12-3)
  • [autotag]Marcelo Nunes[/autotag] (11-2)
  • Antonio Carlos Jr. (16-6)
  • [autotag]Simeon Powell[/autotag] (10-1)
  • [autotag]Karl Albrektsson[/autotag] (14-6)
  • [autotag]Sullivan Cauley[/autotag] (6-1)

** [autotag]Alex Polizzi[/autotag] (11-4) and [autotag]Rafael Xavier[/autotag] (13-8) will serve as alternates.

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The PFL 2025 tournaments kick off on April 3, April 11, April 18, and May 1 at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. The completed brackets will be unveiled March 11 through a bracket reveal show on YouTube.

Fighters will need to win three consecutive bouts to win their respective tournaments. The tournaments winners will each receive a $500,000 bonus.

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2024 PFL Playoffs 2’s Rob Wilkinson: Post-PED suspension success removing cloud of ‘big mistake’

Rob Wilkinson still feels shame from his PED suspension, but hopes winning the 2024 PFL Championship will put all that in the past.

[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.

Rob Wilkinson issues statement addressing removal from 2023 PFL season due to failed drug test

Rob Wilkinson offered a lengthy explanation about his failed drug test, and vows to learn from his mistakes.

[autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] has addressed the drug test failure that led to his removal from the remainder of the 2023 PFL season.

Wilkinson (17-2 MMA, 4-0 PFL), the 2022 PFL light heavyweight season winner, was among double-digit fighters on the promotion’s roster who received sanctions from Nevada for failed drug tests.

“Razor” competed in the co-main event of the first event of the season, winning a unanimous decision against former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Thiago Santos at 2023 PFL 1. However, due to his failed drug test, that result has since been overturned to a no contest.

Wilkinson issued a lengthy statement on Instagram Wednesday, addressing the issues. He takes full responsibility for the drug test failure and promises to get better mentally and physically as he prepares to return for the 2024 season.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CtxHavuOUHv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Firstly, I would like to thank you for your support over my career and I want to provide you all with an explanation for my nonattendance in the 2023 PFL season.

After my last fight on April 1st, I failed an in-competition drug test, which has resulted in my suspension for the rest of the 2023 PFL season.

I have and will continue to reflect on all the reasons that led me down this path, but regardless of these reasons, I am extremely disappointed in myself. I want to emphasize that I wholeheartedly accept full responsibility for the choices I have made and the consequences that have come with it.

To my family, friends, team, fans, and the PFL, I’ve let you down and for that I am sorry. All I can do now is learn and grow from my mistakes, as I’ve always tried to do. I will take this time to improve my mentality and skill set and will be back better than ever. Through every set back, is an opportunity for a stronger come back.

To all of those who have reached out and shown unwavering support during this challenging time, I want to express my sincerest gratitude to you all. I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

I am looking forward to putting this behind me and getting back to what I love. I promise you that I will be bringing the PFL 2024 LHW belt back to Australia.

Wilkinson’s 2022 championship run included four straight stoppage victories. He stopped Bruce Souto, Viktor Pesta, Delan Monte and Omari Akhmedov in succession to become the season winner.

MMA Junkie Radio #3366: First episode of TUF 31 recap, Rob Wilkinson removed from PFL season, more

Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze,” featuring talk around TUF 31, PFL drug tests, and more.

Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,366, the guys went over the first episode of “The Ultimate Fighter 31: McGregor vs. Chandler,” discuss Rob Wilkinson being removed from the PFL season due to a failed drug test, and much more. Tune in!

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Reports: Champ Rob Wilkinson 10th PFL fighter to test positive for banned substance, removed from 2023 season

Rob Wilkinson is the 10th PFL fighter removed from the season after failing a drug test in Nevada.

[autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag]’s attempt to repeat as PFL light heavyweight champion has come to an end.

According to multiple reports, Wilkinson has tested positive for a banned substance following a drug test administered by the Nevada Athletic Commission, which oversaw his most recent fight in April at 2023 PFL 1. As a result, Wilkinson is out for the rest of the season. It’s unclear what substance was found in Wilkinson’s system.

MMA Mania first reported the news Wednesday.

Wilkinson (18-2) is now the 10th PFL fighter facing sanctions in Nevada for  a failed drug test following the promotion’s three-event stint in Las Vegas to open the regular season. The list of fighters who tested positive includes former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Thiago Santos, whom Wilkinson defeated by unanimous decision April 1 at PFL 1.

Wilkinson had been slated to fight Will Fleury in his second bout of the season.

Wilkinson, a two-fight UFC veteran who was TKO’d by Israel Adesanya, broke out in a big way in 2022, winning all four of his PFL fights by knockout, including a doctor stoppage TKO of Omari Akhmedov in the 205-pound final to win the championship and $1 million prize.

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2023 PFL 4 lineup set: Brendan Loughnane, Robert Wilkinson, Thiago Santos return to action June 8

Check out the full fight card lineup for 2023 PFL 4, which kicks off the next series of regular season events in Atlanta.

The 2023 PFL regular season continues June 8 with featherweights and light heavyweights in action.

Following the first three events of the season at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, the promotion settles in for its next series of events at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, with each event airing live on ESPN and ESPN+. In a press release Wednesday, PFL officially announced the lineup for 2023 PFL 4.

The main event will see 2022 featherweight champion [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Jesus Pinedo[/autotag]. At 2023 PFL 1, Loughnane (27-4 MMA, 9-1 PFL) began his 2023 season with a second-round stoppage of Marlon Moraes, while Pinedo (20-6-1 MMA, 0-1 PFL) lost a close split decision to Gabriel Braga.

Loughnane currently sits atop the featherweight standings with 5 points, with Bubba Jenkins, Movlid Khaybulaev, Alejandro Flores and Braga all tied with 3 points.

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The co-main bout takes place in the light heavyweight division, with 2022 champion [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] facing [autotag]Will Fleury[/autotag]. Wilkinson (18-2 MMA, 0-2 PFL) was victorious in his first bout of the season, spoiling the debut of former UFC title challenger Thiago Santos by unanimous decision. Fleury (12-3 MMA, 2-0 PFL) was also successful in the first fight of the regular season, defeating Krzysztof Jotko by split decision.

Santos (22-12 MMA, 0-1 PFL) will look to snap his skid and get back on track at the event, as he faces Mohammad Fakhreddine (15-5 MMA, 0-1 PFL).

Marthin Hamlet and Josh Silveira both have 6 points atop the light heavyweight standings, with Ty Flores, Wilkinson and Fleury at 3 points.

The full 2023 PFL 4 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN)

  • Brendan Loughnane vs. Jesus Pinedo
  • Robert Wilkinson vs. Will Fleury
  • Thiago Santos vs. Mohammad Fakhreddine
  • Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Daniel Torres
  • Marthin Hamlet vs. Sam Kei

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)

  • Josh Silveira vs. Delan Monte
  • Bubba Jenkins vs. Jo Sungbin
  • Krzystof Jotko vs. Ty Flores
  • Alejandro Flores vs. Marlon Moraes
  • Chris Wade vs. Ryoji Kudo
  • Abigail Montes vs. opponent TBA – showcase bout
  • Alexei Pergande vs. opponent TBA – showcase bout

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, April 4: Rob Wilkinson enters at light heavyweight

PFL light heavyweight Rob Wilkinson enters the top 15 after defeating a former UFC title challenger at 2023 PFL 1.

A new name has entered the rankings in the light heavyweight division.

In the co-main event of 2023 PFL 1, [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] defeated former UFC title challenger Thiago Santos in a dominant unanimous decision. The win marked seven straight for Wilkinson, who also won $1 million along with the PFL championship last year.

As a result, he lands in the No. 1 spot in this week’s USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie light heavyweight rankings.

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings above.

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Rob Wilkinson felt more pressure vs. Thiago Santos than in 2022 PFL $1 million final

Rob Wilkinson, the 2022 light heavyweight season winner, picked up 3 points in his quest to repeat when he outworked Thiago Santos.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] beat Thiago Santos with a unanimous decision Friday in the co-main event at 2023 PFL 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Wilkinson, the 2022 light heavyweight season winner who picked up 3 points in his quest to repeat.

Rob Wilkinson def. Thiago Santos at 2023 PFL 1: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Rob Wilkinson’s unanimous decision win over Thiago Santos at 2023 PFL 1 in Las Vegas.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag]’s unanimous decision win over [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] at PFL 2023, Week 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. (Photos courtesy of PFL)