Australia’s Rob Wilkinson has singled out former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou after the self-proclaimed “baddest man on the planet” announced he’ll join the PFL.
The Cameroon fighter’s signing to the PFL is arguably the most significant in its short history and is a big blow for the UFC, whose CEO Dana White failed to secure Ngannou.
‘The Predator’ will make his first competitive PFL appearance in 2024 in the league’s all-new Super Fight Division.
Watch all the action from the 2023 Professional Fighters League, featuring Australian champion Rob Wilkinson. Streaming ad free, live and on demand on Stan Sport
As yet, an opponent for the Las Vegas-based fighter has not been confirmed, but Wilkinson wants to be first in line.
Wilkinson won last year’s PFL light heavyweight title, beating Omari Akhmedov in a second-round knockout, and sees Ngannou as an enticing challenge.
“The match-up with myself and Francis is very interesting,” Wilkinson told Wide World of Sports.
“He gets a lot of knockouts, uses his size, speed and strength very well, he’s explosive and powerful, but he hasn’t looked the most technical.
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“That’s kind of where I pride myself, I am technical and I think I have the best boxing in the PFL and I am also one of the most explosive guys and can use my speed and strength.
“Where I beat Francis is my grappling as well, I’m a very good wrestler and I have won a lot of fights with submission and ground and pound.
“So yeah, I think the match-up is very interesting.”
There is one hurdle Wilkinson would have to overcome.
The 31-year-old would have to shift weight divisions between seasons.
Wilkinson weighs in at 205 lbs while Ngannou last year revealed he was close to 300 lbs, but floated around the 260 lb marker in his UFC era.
Although Ngannou’s numbers are daunting, Wilkinson sees it only as a positive for him.
“There is an obvious size difference, I’m pretty sure I have seen that he walks around at 300lbs, that’s about 30kgs more than I walk around at,” Wilkson said.
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“But I like the challenge, it’s always interesting fighting bigger guys, never anyone like Francis before, but I’ve often sparred with bigger guys and I usually have the speed advantage and I am very strong for my size anyway so I’m usually stronger than the bigger guys regardless and feel like I am a lot quicker than those guys.
“I love challenges, who wouldn’t want the opportunity to fight someone like Francis and then also get to be considered the baddest man on the planet, I couldn’t turn down an opportunity like that. I’d be very confident with this fight and a full training camp focused on Francis.”
Ngannou’s “baddest man of the planet” remark drew a hilarious response from Jon Jones, who took to Twitter to fire a grenade.
The PFL season continues with PFL 4 on June 8 where Wilkinson will face Ty Flores – coverage live, ad-free, and exclusively on Stan Sport.
Wilkinson defeated Thiago Santos by unanimous decision in PFL 1. He sits third equal in the standings with Ty Flores and Will Fleury.
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