Entering this season on the heels of what was effectively a lost year, professionally speaking, Wilkinson came out firing. A first-round finish of Tom Breese and a split-decision win over Joshua Silveira led to Wilkinson earning nine points on the 2024 Regular Season and a berth in the playoffs, placing him back in pursuit of the title he once had. Speaking to Sherdog.com ahead of his playoff fight against Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov, Wilkinson discussed getting back to action and the gratitude he has for being back and the PFL structure.
“It’s been great. I love what I do, I love competing. I guess that’s what I’ve been telling myself leading into each fight, I’m grateful to be here and able to do what I love, and compete at this high level. I’ve always loved the PFL structure, it’s just back-to-back fights, there’s no getting out of shape or having too much time off, you know you’ve got one fight but you know there’s another one coming around the corner.”
That PFL structure not only keeps a fighter busy, but it also gives former champions the mindset that although they’ve never lost the belt, they have to go back and earn it once again. Wilkinson does recognize he was never defeated as the champion but understands with the PFL format, that status has to be earned every year.
“Yeah, I never lost the belt but that’s what it is, it’s a yearly championship. Same thing for [2023 Champion] Impa [Kasanganay]; he hasn’t lost but he has to win all three fights to even have a chance to fight for it again, but it does make it exciting. I think it’s exciting that both me and Impa, the last two years champions, haven’t fought each other, haven’t lost and if all goes well, we’ll be fighting each other in the Finals.”
In order to get back to the Finals, Wilkinson has business to take care of against Yagshimuradov, an opponent he believes is well-rounded, which will lead to an exciting matchup between the two on Aug. 16 in Hollywood, Fla.
“He’s a great opponent, I was actually scheduled to face him in Round 1 and they kind of mixed it up on me, changed it to Phil Davis and he was obviously out, so yea, I was looking at [Yagshimuradov] earlier this year. He’s obviously done well, he’s got two wins. Good explosive striker, he’s got good wrestling, well-rounded, I think it’s going to be an exciting fight.”
Already having had that moment of self-reflection with the journey he’s been on and battling back from adversity in 2023, Wilkinson is ready to get back the belt he never lost in the cage, to do so in exciting fashion, and if things go according to his plan, it’ll be the 2022 champion against the 2023 champion, competing for the 2024 title.