Hobart’s Rob Wilkinson wins through to the PFL final
A Hobart MMA star is one win away from making his “dreams come true” and becoming a world champion after a stunning win at Madison Square Garden this morning. SEE HIS KO WIN + WHAT HE SAID >>
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Mixed martial arts fighter Rob ‘Razor’ Wilkinson is eyeing a monster payday and a world title belt after a stunning win at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday.
The Tasmanian needed just 97 seconds to defeat Brazil’s Delan Monte in the Professional Fighters League light heavyweight semi-final – with a huge left knee to Monte’s head sending him crashing to the canvas.
It was Wilkinson’s third consecutive win in the PFL, propelling him to a spot in the November final which carries a $US1m purse ($A1.44m) for the winner.
“It’s a pretty crazy experience,” Wilkinson said in the cage after his win.
“I’ve been writing in my journal every day for the past almost two years that I’d be a world champion in 2022 and I’ve just got to win one more fight and that’s come true.”
The 30-year-old will take on Russian Omari Akhmedov on November 25.
Wilkinson was asked in the post-fight press conference if he thought he had made Tasmania proud.
“I hope so,” he said.
Wilkinson used to train out of Hobart’s Hybrid Training Centre, but moved to Factory X in Colorado earlier this year to train among elite fighters.
Hybrid Training Centre co-owner Jeremy Green watched the fight with friends on Saturday and said he had been confident Wilkinson would win.
“I was able to have a little bit of a conversation with him before he fought,” Green said.
“He was in good spirits.”
He said while ‘Razor’ was a reference to Wilkinson’s sharp elbows, his knees were almost as lethal.
“He’s got really sharp knees like they’re really precise, really well-timed,” he said.
“So, as soon as the knee landed to the head, it was all over.”
Wilkinson said he went into the bout with Monte knowing he could win.
“I knew I was bigger, stronger and faster … so I was happy with (the fight),” he said.
“I knew I could hit him harder than he could hit me.”
Wilkinson said he would spend the next couple of days demolishing the best sandwiches and burgers New York had to offer, before he returns to Colorado to start preparing for the final.
“I’m feeling excited to go and make my dreams come true and win a world championship,” he said.
Wilkinson added that he would most likely be heading into the final as the favourite.
“Although, my friends back home want me to make it look harder so they get better odds when they bet on me,” he joked.
About 70 friends and training partners of Wilkinson gathered at Hybrid Training Centre to watch Wilkinson’s bout.
Centre co-owner Kahn Sandy said he had been one of Wilkinson’s training partners – or one of his “punching bags” – over the years.
“I’ve been one of his best friends for a long time,” he said.
“One of his major goals was to fight at Madison Square Garden.”
Tom Ackerly, another one of Wilkinson’s training partners, said the atmosphere in the gym on Saturday morning was “hectic” as they watched the action 16,000km away.
“Everyone was cheering,” Ackerly said.
“We know Rob can’t hear us but, you know, for him to be going over there … and dominating, just shows how good he is.”
Ackerly said Wilkinson was an inspiration to all the MMA fighters climbing the ranks at Hybrid Training Centre.
“He shows us that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, as long as you put in the time and effort, you can do anything,” he said.
“He’s bringing a million dollars home that’s for sure.”
Originally published as Hobart’s Rob Wilkinson wins through to the PFL final
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