'I don't mean this in a disrespectful way': What Tassie gun plans to do to cocky English opponent
Updated . First published at
Tasmania's Rob Wilkinson is confident he will get his career back on track against "cocky" Englishman Luke Trainer in Dubai on Sunday (AEDT).
Wilkinson, 33, has had nine months to stew since his last fight, a TKO loss to Phil Davis in Orlando.
And Trainer, a 29-year-old who calls himself 'The Gent,' has fanned the flames ahead of the much anticipated showdown.
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v, because like I said he might knock me out in the first minute," Trainer said.
"I think I'm going to put him out in the first round. I think if he shoots on me, I'll strangle him. If not the second, if not the third. I believe I will put him away."
Wilkinson, the former PFL light heavyweight champion spoke to Wide World of Sports ahead of the 'Road to Dubai' bout.
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Rob Wilkinson throws a punch against Tom Breese. Getty
WWOS: Your opponent has come out pretty cocky. Have you ever met him before?
RW: No, I had never heard of him until I got offered the fight and I looked him up, but he was a Bellator fighter. He's a bit younger and coming up. He's got a good record, 9-1.
You are kind of cocky and confident when you're on a winning streak. He's 29 years old but I don't think he's fought anyone like the level I am, or the guys I've been fighting recently. I've got a lot more experience than him and have been fighting higher quality fighters than him. I was happy with the matchup.
I don't think he's a bad opponent or anything like that. I'm excited to go show why I'm still one of the best fighters in the world.
Rob Wilkinson during the Professional Fighters League Pacific launch press conference. Getty
WWOS: Does the Aussie vs English component add any extra spice from your perspective?
RW: Ha! There is always that rivalry. I've only fought one Englishman before and that was the quickest knockout I've had.
So maybe I can try and beat that record and get another quick knockout.
Phil Davis throws a punch against Rob Wilkinson. Getty
WWOS: How do you reflect on your loss to Phil Davis?
RW: Phil Davis has fought the best in the world for a long time, and he's always been right at that top level. Really the only ones he's lost to are world champions, and he's a former world champion himself.
I think I just got a little bit too comfortable or too content. I won that first round. I felt really good. He mixed it up, he's a vet. I don't know what it was. Maybe it was a bit of an ego thing, but I stopped doing what I was doing to win that first round.
My back was against the cage. I wasn't using my footwork and that was the end of the fight. I felt like I was controlling the fight, but that's the fight game. It only takes one punch and it can be all over.
