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 disenchanted 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 remaining 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 desires to show that he’s simply as harmful now as he ever was prior to now, Wilkinson says his need 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 gained 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 among the best fighters.
“I’m undecided if that’s simply me being aggressive. I’ve come out after final yr and gained my two fights. It was an extended interval between fights and are available out get my first two fights carried out. Now it’s into the playoffs.”
Throughout his run again in 2022, Wilkinson demolished his competitors throughout the PFL season with 4 straight knockouts capped off by his win over fellow UFC veteran Omari Akhmedov within the finals.
To date throughout the newest season, Wilkinson made brief work of one other ex-UFC fighter in Tom Breese earlier than going to resolution in opposition to Josh Silveira within the combat that cemented his place within the playoffs, which kick off Friday night time from Florida.
Wilkinson is aware of that profitable by any means mandatory is de facto all that issues however he additionally appreciates that his fan-friendly type 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 comfortable that the viewers each within the area and at dwelling watching on TV have come to count on that from him.
“I like that [reputation],” Wilkinson mentioned. “That’s type of what I’ve introduced since I got here to the PFL. Once I’ve had fights, I all the time wish to be thrilling. I don’t wish to have boring fights. Clearly, I wish to win nonetheless I can however I additionally wish 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 in opposition to both Silveira or 2023 PFL champion Impa Kasanganay, who took dwelling 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 would possibly imply a bit 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 all the time talked to him across the reveals however for that purpose, the truth that [Impa] is the champ from final yr and me and him preventing within the remaining for the title is a very huge 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.”
