Rob Wilkinson promises there’s always ‘something to prove’ regardless of his comeback from suspension

2022 PFL light heavyweight champion Rob Wilkinson never made excuses for his misdeeds after he tested positive for elevated testosterone levels as a result of using “an anabolic androgenic steroid” that eliminated him from the 2023 season along with a nine month suspension.

In a public mea culpa posted on social media after the Nevada Athletic Commission handed down his punishment, Wilkinson said “I am extremely disappointed in myself” and that he accepted “full responsibility” for his actions, which led to his removal from the PFL season. After serving his suspension, Wilkinson returned to the PFL for the 2024 season and thus far he’s 2-0 with a chance to punch his ticket to another $1 million final if he can get through Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov on Friday.

While he’s acknowledged that he hopes to put the cheating scandal to bed by winning the PFL championship for a second time — with the United States Anti-Doping Agency now handling drug testing for the promotion — Wilkinson isn’t letting mistakes from his past haunt his future. As much as he wants to prove that he’s just as dangerous now as he ever was in the past, Wilkinson says his desire to win in spectacular fashion never wavered.

“I think that adds a bit of motivation and something to prove,” Wilkinson told MMA Fighting about returning after his suspension. “At the same time, it was a weird feeling. As soon as I won the belt in 2022, I felt like I had to win it again. I had to come back and win it again to prove I’m one of the best fighters.

“I’m not sure if that’s just me being competitive. I’ve come out after last year and won my two fights. It was a long period between fights and come out get my first two fights done. Now it’s into the playoffs.”

During his run back in 2022, Wilkinson demolished his competition during the PFL season with four straight knockouts capped off by his win over fellow UFC veteran Omari Akhmedov in the finals.

So far during the latest season, Wilkinson made short work of another ex-UFC fighter in Tom Breese before going to decision against Josh Silveira in the fight that cemented his place in the playoffs, which kick off Friday night from Florida.

Wilkinson knows that winning by any means necessary is really all that matters but he also appreciates that his fan-friendly style has become his signature. He’s not necessarily going out there to put away his opponents in violent fashion but Wilkinson is happy that the audience both in the arena and at home watching on TV have come to expect that from him.

“I love that [reputation],” Wilkinson said. “That’s kind of what I’ve brought since I came to the PFL. When I’ve had fights, I always want to be exciting. I don’t want to have boring fights. Obviously, I want to win however I can but I also want to get in the pocket and trade some punches and give the fans what they want.”

A win on Friday would put Wilkinson back into the finals against either Silveira or 2023 PFL champion Impa Kasanganay, who took home the grand prize while the Australian born light heavyweight was serving his suspension this past year.

As much as it ultimately doesn’t matter who he fights, Wilkinson admits that a showdown with Kasanganay might mean a little bit more just because he’s already beaten Silveira and capping off the season with a win over the guy who got the belt in his absence would be the perfect conclusion to his comeback.

“I like Josh, I’ve always talked to him around the shows but for that reason, the fact that [Impa] is the champ from last year and me and him fighting in the final for the title is a really big fight, that’s the fight,” Wilkinson said. “I said I’d love to fight Impa or ‘Shoeface’ [Antonio Carlos Jr.] in the finals because they’re both former champions and I’d fought neither of them.

“‘Shoeface’ is out so it would be great to fight Impa in the finals.”