Rob Wilkinson

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. As of August 21, 2026, he is #6 in the PFL light heavyweight rankings.

Background Wilkinson was born in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Mixed martial arts career Early career Wilkinson made his professional debut in 2011 and amassed a record of 11–0. 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. He last competed in a battle of undefeated fighters, submitted German Alexander Poppeck in the first round in Finland prior signed by UFC. against Siyar Bahadurzada. He lost the fight via TKO in round two, handing him his first career loss.

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

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

Post-UFC career In 2019, Wilkinson competed in two kickboxing bouts, winning both and earning a record of 2–0.

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.

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

Wilkinson was scheduled to defend his title against Sam Kei at Hex Fight 22 on 9 July 2021. 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. He won the bout via ground and pound technical knockout in the second round.

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

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

In the finals of the Light Heavyweight tournament, Wilkinson faced Omari Akhmedov on 25 November 2022 at PFL 10. 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.

2023 Season Wilkinson started the 2023 season against former UFC Light Heavyweight title challenger Thiago Santos on 1 April 2023 at PFL 1. He won the bout via unanimous decision. 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.

Wilkinson was scheduled to face Will Fleury on 8 June 2023 at PFL 4. After Fleury had failed a commission drug test, he was replaced by Ty Flores. Wilkinson was later suspended 9 months and fined for his positive drug test. He won the fight by first-round technical knockout with a knee and punches.

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

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

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

In the quarterfinal, Wilkinson faced Phil Davis on May 1, 2025, at PFL 4. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the second round.

2026 Wilkinson faced Luke Trainer on February 7, 2026, at PFL Dubai: Nurmagomedov vs. Davis, and lost the bout via submission in the first round.

Wilkinson faced Abraham Bably on June 27, 2026, at PFL San Diego. He won the fight via technical knockout in round two.

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. He won the fight via fifth-round technical knockout.

Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts Professional Fighters League 2022 PFL Light Heavyweight Championship Australian Fighting Championship AFC Middleweight Championship (one time) BRACE BRACE Middleweight Championship (one time) Hex Fight Series Hex Fight Series Light Heavyweight Championship (one time) Sherdog 2022 Comeback Fighter of the Year MMA Fighting 2022 First Team MMA All-Star

Mixed martial arts record Win

Abraham Bably TKO (punches) PFL San Diego: McKee vs. Isbulaev

San Diego, California, United States Loss

Luke Trainer Submission (guillotine choke) PFL Dubai: Nurmagomedov vs. Davis

Dubai, United Arab Emirates Loss

Phil Davis TKO (punches) PFL 4 (2025)

Orlando, Florida, United States Loss

Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov Decision (unanimous) PFL 8 (2024)

Hollywood, Florida, United States Win

Josh Silveira Decision (split) PFL 5 (2024)

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Tom Breese TKO (knee and punches) PFL 2 (2024)

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States NC

Thiago Santos NC (overturned) PFL 1 (2023)

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Omari Akhmedov TKO (doctor stoppage) PFL 10 (2022)

New York City, New York, United States Win

Delan Monte KO (punches and knee) PFL 7 (2022)

New York City, New York, United States Win

Viktor Pesta TKO (punches) PFL 4 (2022)

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Win

Bruce Souto TKO (punches) PFL 1 (2022)

Arlington, Texas, United States Win

Daniel Almeida KO (punches) Hex Fight Series 21

Melbourne, Australia Win

Dylan Andrews Submission (guillotine choke) Australian FC 23

Melbourne, Australia Loss

Israel Adesanya TKO (knees and punches) UFC 221

Perth, Australia Loss

Siyar Bahadurzada TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Struve

Rotterdam, Netherlands Win

Alexander Poppeck Submission (rear-naked choke) EuroFC 01

Espoo, Finland Win

Jamie Abdallah TKO (punches) Australian FC 15

Melbourne, Australia Win

Daniel Schardt Submission (guillotine choke) Australian FC 14

Melbourne, Australia Win

Gerhard Voigt Submission (rear-naked choke) Brace For War: Tournament Season 1 Final

Canberra, Australia Win

Rick Alchin TKO (elbows) Brace For War 28

Sydney, Australia Win

Kitt Campbell Submission (triangle choke) Brace For War 27

Canberra, Australia Win

Benjamin Kelleher Decision (unanimous) Submission 4

Alice Springs, Australia Win

Ady Sutton Submission (armbar) Valor Fight 3

Launceston, Australia Win

Ty Shar Submission (rear-naked choke) Sport Fight 31

Manson, Washington, United States Win

Marc Gehret TKO (punches) Brace For War 14

Canberra, Australia Win

Dallas Wilkinson-Reed TKO (punches) Brace For War 12

Hobart, Australia

Professional boxing record

Kickboxing record