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.
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]
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]
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]
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.
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]
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]
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]
On March 4, 2025, the promotion officially revealed that Wilkinson will join the 2025 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament.[43]
In the quarterfinal, Wilkinson faced Phil Davis on May 1, 2025, at PFL 4.[44] He lost the fight by technical knockout in the second round.[45]
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.[46] He won the fight via fifth-round technical knockout.[47]
| 24 matches | 19 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 10 | 3 |
| By submission | 7 | 0 |
| By decision | 2 | 1 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 19–4 (1) | Phil Davis | TKO (punches) | PFL 4 (2025) | May 1, 2025 | 2 | 0:51 | Orlando, Florida, United States | 2025 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Loss | 19–3 (1) | Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 8 (2024) | 16 August 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 19–2 (1) | Josh Silveira | Decision (split) | PFL 5 (2024) | 21 June 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 18–2 (1) | Tom Breese | TKO (knee and punches) | PFL 2 (2024) | 12 April 2024 | 1 | 1:10 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| NC | 17–2 (1) | Thiago Santos | NC (overturned) | PFL 1 (2023) | 1 April 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Originally a Decision (unanimous) win for Wilkinson; overturned after he tested positive for elevated T/E ratio. |
| Win | 17–2 | Omari Akhmedov | TKO (doctor stoppage) | PFL 10 (2022) | 25 November 2022 | 2 | 5:00 | New York City, New York, United States | Won the 2022 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament. |
| Win | 16–2 | Delan Monte | KO (punches and knee) | PFL 7 (2022) | 5 August 2022 | 1 | 1:37 | New York City, New York, United States | 2022 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 15–2 | Viktor Pesta | TKO (punches) | PFL 4 (2022) | 17 June 2022 | 1 | 3:03 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 14–2 | Bruce Souto | TKO (punches) | PFL 1 (2022) | 20 April 2022 | 2 | 0:46 | Arlington, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 13–2 | Daniel Almeida | KO (punches) | Hex Fight Series 21 | 9 April 2021 | 1 | 1:22 | Melbourne, Australia | Won the Hex Fight Series Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 12–2 | Dylan Andrews | Submission (guillotine choke) | Australian FC 23 | 1 December 2019 | 1 | 3:03 | Melbourne, Australia | Return to Light Heavyweight. |
| Loss | 11–2 | Israel Adesanya | TKO (knees and punches) | UFC 221 | 11 February 2018 | 2 | 3:37 | Perth, Australia | |
| Loss | 11–1 | Siyar Bahadurzada | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Struve | 2 September 2017 | 2 | 3:10 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| Win | 11–0 | Alexander Poppeck | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EuroFC 01 | 1 October 2016 | 1 | 3:51 | Espoo, Finland | |
| Win | 10–0 | Jamie Abdallah | TKO (punches) | Australia FC 15 | 19 March 2016 | 3 | 4:07 | Melbourne, Australia | Won the AFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–0 | Daniel Schardt | Submission (guillotine choke) | Australian FC 14 | 12 September 2015 | 1 | 3:28 | Melbourne, Australia | |
| Win | 8–0 | Gerhard Voigt | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Brace For War: Tournament Season 1 Final | 22 November 2014 | 1 | 3:45 | Canberra, Australia | Won the BRACE Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–0 | Rick Alchin | TKO (elbows) | Brace For War 28 | 8 August 2014 | 1 | 4:16 | Sydney, Australia | |
| Win | 6–0 | Kitt Campbell | Submission (triangle choke) | Brace For War 27 | 17 May 2014 | 1 | 1:32 | Canberra, Australia | |
| Win | 5–0 | Benjamin Kelleher | Decision (unanimous) | Submission 4 | 17 August 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Alice Springs, Australia | |
| Win | 4–0 | Ady Sutton | Submission (armbar) | Valor Fight 3 | 8 December 2012 | 1 | 3:47 | Launceston, Australia | Return to Middleweight. |
| Win | 3–0 | Ty Shar | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Sport Fight 31 | 4 August 2012 | 1 | 1:42 | Manson, Washington, United States | Light Heavyweight debut. |
| Win | 2–0 | Marc Gehret | TKO (punches) | Brace For War 14 | 12 February 2012 | 1 | 4:55 | Canberra, Australia | |
| Win | 1–0 | Dallas Wilkinson-Reed | TKO (punches) | Brace For War 12 | 15 October 2011 | 1 | N/A | Hobart, Australia | Middleweight debut. |
| 1 fight | 1 win | 0 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Jayden Joseph | TKO | 5 (8), 1:37 | 30 October 2021 | Hobart City Hall, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia | Won vacant Tasmania State heavyweight title |
| 2 Wins (1 (T)KO's), 0 Losses, 0 Draws. | ||||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-08-24 | Win |  Patrick Dittrich |
Tasmanian Fighting Championships 2 | Hobart, Australia | Decision (split) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| 2019-05-18 | Win | Joe Tullo |
Tasmanian Fighting Championships 1 | Hobart, Australia | KO | 2 | 1:28 | |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | ||||||||
