2022 PFL gentle heavyweight champion Rob Wilkinson by no means made excuses for his misdeeds after he examined constructive for elevated testosterone ranges because of utilizing “an anabolic androgenic steroid” that eradicated him from the 2023 season together with a 9 month suspension.
In a public mea culpa posted on social media after the Nevada Athletic Fee handed down his punishment, Wilkinson mentioned “I’m extraordinarily dissatisfied in myself” and that he accepted “full duty” for his actions, which led to his removing from the PFL season. After serving his suspension, Wilkinson returned to the PFL for the 2024 season and to date he’s 2-0 with an opportunity to punch his ticket to a different $1 million last if he can get via Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov on Friday.
Whereas he’s acknowledged that he hopes to place the dishonest scandal to mattress by profitable the PFL championship for a second time — with the USA Anti-Doping Company now dealing with drug testing for the promotion — Wilkinson isn’t letting errors from his previous hang-out his future. As a lot as he needs to show that he’s simply as harmful now as he ever was prior to now, Wilkinson says his want to win in spectacular trend by no means wavered.
“I believe that provides a little bit of motivation and one thing to show,” Wilkinson instructed MMA Combating about returning after his suspension. “On the identical time, it was a bizarre feeling. As quickly as I received the belt in 2022, I felt like I needed to win it once more. I needed to come again and win it once more to show I’m probably the greatest fighters.
“I’m unsure if that’s simply me being aggressive. I’ve come out after final yr and received my two fights. It was an extended interval between fights and are available out get my first two fights completed. Now it’s into the playoffs.”
Throughout his run again in 2022, Wilkinson demolished his competitors in the course of the PFL season with 4 straight knockouts capped off by his win over fellow UFC veteran Omari Akhmedov within the finals.
Thus far in the course of the newest season, Wilkinson made quick work of one other ex-UFC fighter in Tom Breese earlier than going to determination towards Josh Silveira within the combat that cemented his place within the playoffs, which kick off Friday evening from Florida.
Wilkinson is aware of that profitable by any means essential is absolutely all that issues however he additionally appreciates that his fan-friendly model has grow to be his signature. He’s not essentially going on the market to place away his opponents in violent trend however Wilkinson is completely happy that the viewers each within the enviornment and at residence watching on TV have come to count on that from him.
“I like that [reputation],” Wilkinson mentioned. “That’s form of what I’ve introduced since I got here to the PFL. After I’ve had fights, I at all times need to be thrilling. I don’t need to have boring fights. Clearly, I need to win nonetheless I can however I additionally need to get within the pocket and commerce some punches and provides the followers what they need.”
A win on Friday would put Wilkinson again into the finals towards both Silveira or 2023 PFL champion Impa Kasanganay, who took residence the grand prize whereas the Australian born gentle heavyweight was serving his suspension this previous yr.
As a lot because it in the end doesn’t matter who he fights, Wilkinson admits {that a} showdown with Kasanganay may imply slightly bit extra simply because he’s already overwhelmed Silveira and capping off the season with a win over the man who acquired the belt in his absence could be the right conclusion to his comeback.
“I like Josh, I’ve at all times talked to him across the reveals however for that purpose, the truth that [Impa] is the champ from final yr and me and him combating within the last for the title is a very massive combat, that’s the combat,” Wilkinson mentioned. “I mentioned I’d like to combat Impa or ‘Shoeface’ [Antonio Carlos Jr.] within the finals as a result of they’re each former champions and I’d fought neither of them.
“‘Shoeface’ is out so it could be nice to combat Impa within the finals.”
