Rob Wilkinson

Last updated

Rob Wilkinson
Born (1992-02-22) 22 February 1992 (age 33)
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia [1]
Other namesRazor
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Division Light Heavyweight (2019–present)
Middleweight (2011–2018)
Reach76 in (193 cm)
Fighting out of Sydney, Australia [2]
TeamVT1 gym [3]
Hybrid Training Centre
Factory X (2022–present) [4]
Teacher(s)Priscus Fogagnolo (BJJ) [5]
RankBlue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Priscus Fogagnolo [6]
Years active2011–present
Professional boxing record
Total1
Wins1
By knockout1
Kickboxing record
Total2
Wins2
By knockout1
Mixed martial arts record
Total23
Wins19
By knockout10
By submission7
By decision2
Losses3
By knockout2
By decision1
No contests1
Other information
Boxing record from BoxRec
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Rob Wilkinson (born 22 February 1992) is an Australian mixed martial artist who competes in the Light heavyweight division of Professional Fighters League (PFL), where he won the championship in 2022. A professional competitor since 2011, he previously competed in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and was the middleweight champion in Australian Fighting Championship and BRACE.

Contents

Background

Wilkinson was born in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia [1] where he currently resides. [3] Wilkinson started training at the age of 17 at Hobart’s Hybrid Training Centre, and was a personal trainer prior to taking up a career in MMA. He started training MMA after watching a video on YouTube of Randy Couture which he instantly fell in love with the sport. [7] [8] [9]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Wilkinson made his professional debut in 2011 and amassed a record of 11–0. [10] He has won all fights via stoppage but one and holds 9 out of his 11 fights in the 1st round, en route to capturing both Australian Fighting Championship middleweight title and BRACE middleweight championship belt. [11] He last competed in a battle of undefeated fighters, submitted German Alexander Poppeck in the first round in Finland prior signed by UFC. [3]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Wilkinson made his promotional debut on 2 September 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Struve, replacing injured Abu Azaitar, [12] [13] against Siyar Bahadurzada. [14] He lost the fight via TKO in round two, handing him his first career loss. [15]

Wilkinson faced Israel Adesanya on 11 February 2018 at UFC 221. [16] He lost the fight via TKO in the second round. [17]

On 14 August 2018 it was announced that Wilkinson was released from UFC. [18]

Post-UFC career

In 2019, Wilkinson competed in two kickboxing bouts, winning both and earning a record of 2-0. [19]

Almost two years since his previous MMA bout, Wilkinson moved up to the light heavyweight division and faced Dylan Andrews at AFC 23 on 1 December 2019. He won the fight via first-round submission. [20]

On 9 April 2021 Wilkinson defeated Daniel Almeida via first round TKO, winning the Hex Fight Series Light Heavyweight Championship. [21]

Wilkinson was scheduled to defend his title against Sam Kei at Hex Fight 22 on 9 July 2021. [22] However, the bout was scrapped due to unknown reason.

Professional Fighters League

2022 Season

Wilkinson faced Bruce Souto on 23 April 2022 at PFL 1. [23] He won the bout via ground and pound technical knockout in the second round. [24]

Wilkinson faced Viktor Pešta on 17 June 2022 at PFL 4. [25] He won the bout via TKO stoppage in the first round. [26]

Wilkinson faced Delan Monte in the Semifinals off the Light Heavyweight tournament on 5 August 2022 at PFL 7. [27] He won the bout in the first round, knocking out Monte after landing a knee and then finishing him off with punches. [28]

In the finals of the Light Heavyweight tournament, Wilkinson faced Omari Akhmedov on 25 November 2022 at PFL 10. [29] He won the bout after the fight was stopped by the doctor due to a cut after the second round, also winning the $1 million collective tournament pool. [30]

2023 Season

Wilkinson started the 2023 season against former UFC Light Heavyweight title challenger Thiago Santos on 1 April 2023 at PFL 1. [31] He won the bout via unanimous decision. [32] The result of the bout was later overturned to a no contest after Wilkinson tested positive for Elevated t/e ratio resulting from the androgynous origin of testosterone. [33]

Wilkinson was scheduled to face Will Fleury on 8 June 2023 at PFL 4. [34] After Fleury had failed a commission drug test, he was replaced by Ty Flores. [7] However on May 31 it was revealed that Wilkinson also failed a drug test. In process, he was pulled out of the 2023 season and Daniel Spohn replaced him in the bout against Flores. [35] [36] Wilkinson was later suspended 9 months and fined for his positive drug test. [33]

2024 Season

Wilkinson started the 2024 season with a bout against Tom Breese on 12 April 2024 at PFL 2. [37] He won the fight by first-round technical knockout with a knee and punches. [38]

Wilkinson faced Josh Silveira in his next bout at PFL 5 on 21 June 2024, winning the close bout via split decision. [39]

Wilkinson faced Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov in the semifinals of the 2024 Light Heavyweight tournament on 16 August 2024 at PFL 8. [40] He lost the fight by unanimous decision. [41] [42]

2025 Tournament

On March 4, 2025, the promotion officially revealed that Wilkinson will join the 2025 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament. [43]

In the quarterfinal, Wilkinson is scheduled to face Phil Davis on May 1, 2025, at PFL 4. [44]

Boxing career

Having problems finding mixed martial arts fights, Wilkinson opted to compete also in boxing, making his debut against Jayden Joseph for the vacant Tasmanian Heavyweight title on 30 October 2021. [45] He won the fight via fifth-round technical knockout. [46]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
23 matches19 wins3 losses
By knockout102
By submission70
By decision21
No contests1
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss19–3 (1) Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov Decision (unanimous) PFL 8 (2024) 16 August 202435:00 Hollywood, Florida, United States 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win19–2 (1)Josh SilveiraDecision (split) PFL 5 (2024) 21 June 202435:00 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Win18–2 (1) Tom Breese TKO (knee and punches) PFL 2 (2024) 12 April 202411:10 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
NC17–2 (1) Thiago Santos NC (overturned) PFL 1 (2023) 1 April 202335:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesOriginally a Decision (unanimous) win for Wilkinson; overturned after he tested positive for elevated T/E ratio.
Win17–2 Omari Akhmedov TKO (doctor stoppage) PFL 10 (2022) 25 November 202225:00 New York City, New York, United StatesWon the 2022 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament.
Win16–2Delan MonteKO (punches and knee) PFL 7 (2022) 5 August 202211:37 New York City, New York, United States 2022 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win15–2 Viktor Pesta TKO (punches) PFL 4 (2022) 17 June 202213:03 Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Win14–2Bruce SoutoTKO (punches) PFL 1 (2022) 20 April 202220:46 Arlington, Texas, United States
Win13–2Daniel AlmeidaKO (punches)Hex Fight Series 219 April 202111:22 Melbourne, AustraliaWon the Hex Fight Series Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win12–2 Dylan Andrews Submission (guillotine choke)Australian FC 231 December 201913:03 Melbourne, AustraliaReturn to Light Heavyweight.
Loss11–2 Israel Adesanya TKO (knees and punches) UFC 221 11 February 201823:37 Perth, Australia
Loss11–1 Siyar Bahadurzada TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Struve 2 September 201723:10 Rotterdam, Netherlands
Win11–0Alexander PoppeckSubmission (rear-naked choke)EuroFC 011 October 201613:51 Espoo, Finland
Win10–0Jamie AbdallahTKO (punches)Australia FC 1519 March 201634:07 Melbourne, AustraliaWon the AFC Middleweight Championship.
Win9–0Daniel SchardtSubmission (guillotine choke)Australian FC 1412 September 201513:28 Melbourne, Australia
Win8–0Gerhard VoigtSubmission (rear-naked choke)Brace For War: Tournament Season 1 Final22 November 201413:45 Canberra, AustraliaWon the BRACE Middleweight Championship.
Win7–0Rick AlchinTKO (elbows)Brace For War 288 August 201414:16 Sydney, Australia
Win6–0Kitt CampbellSubmission (triangle choke)Brace For War 2717 May 201411:32 Canberra, Australia
Win5–0 Benjamin Kelleher Decision (unanimous)Submission 417 August 201335:00 Alice Springs, Australia
Win4–0Ady SuttonSubmission (armbar)Valor Fight 38 December 201213:47 Launceston, AustraliaReturn to Middleweight.
Win3–0Ty SharSubmission (rear-naked choke)Sport Fight 314 August 201211:42 Manson, Washington, United StatesLight Heavyweight debut.
Win2–0Marc GehretTKO (punches)Brace For War 1412 February 201214:55 Canberra, Australia
Win1–0Dallas Wilkinson-ReedTKO (punches)Brace For War 1215 October 20111N/A Hobart, AustraliaMiddleweight debut.

[51]

Professional boxing record

1 fight1 win0 losses
By knockout10
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
1Win1–0Jayden JosephTKO5 (8), 1:3730 October 2021 Hobart City Hall, Hobart, Tasmania, AustraliaWon vacant Tasmania State heavyweight title

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing record
2 Wins (1 (T)KO's), 0 Losses, 0 Draws.
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTime
2019-08-24Win Flag of Australia (converted).svg Patrick DittrichTasmanian Fighting Championships 2 Hobart, Australia Decision (split)53:00
2019-05-18Win Flag of Australia (converted).svg Joe TulloTasmanian Fighting Championships 1 Hobart, Australia KO21:28
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

References

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  2. "Rob Wilkinson". Tapology. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
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  4. Cageside Press (18 June 2022). PFL 4: Rob Wilkinson Explains Move To Factory X via YouTube.
  5. "This is my division! - AFC MMA". AFC MMA. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  6. Rob Wilkinson [@razorrobwilkinson] (20 December 2019). "After 10 years of training it was a honour to be given my blue belt in BJJ from my professor @priscusfogagnolo" via Instagram.
  7. 1 2 Filosi, Ben (17 February 2022). "Rob Wilkinson signs with the PFL, returning to the World MMA stage". The Inner Sanctum. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  8. Lawler, Jarrod (26 November 2022). "Rob Wilkinson defeats Omari Akhmedov in PFL Final". The Mercury.
  9. Rosendale, Ryan (15 December 2022). "Rob 'Razor' Wilkinson credits training shift for World Championship win". The Mercury.
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