Latest news with #RobWilkinson
Sydney Morning Herald
13-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
It's the world's fastest-growing sport. A new series will bring MMA into lounge rooms across Australia
Rob Wilkinson reckons cauliflower ears are an occupational hazard. Fellow world champion Jacinta Austin has, fortunately, managed to avoid any such souvenirs during her mixed martial arts career. Both are hopeful that their sport will be showcased on a whole new level after the launch on Tuesday of the Professional Fighters League Pacific series, which chief executive Peter Murray predicted would deliver 'the most accessible MMA experience Australia has ever seen'. While the Ultimate Fighting Championship remains the most high-profile and lucrative of the MMA codes, Murray said there were more than enough athletes and fans to warrant multiple series. 'It's the fastest-growing sport in the world,' Murray said. 'Over 600 million fans, 80 per cent outside the US … UFC cannot fulfil all that demand, and they can't create the pathways for all the great athletes and fighters around the world.' Televised by Stan, 9Now and the 9Network, Murray said PFL Pacific will stage four events in 2026, starting with Sydney and Melbourne, as well as New Zealand. The best-performed local fighters will then advance to the even more lucrative Champions Series in Dubai. For Hobart-born 'Razor' Wilkinson, a world champion in the light-heavyweight division, PFL Pacific will provide an opportunity to inspire the next generation of Australian fighters. 'It's like any professional sport,' he said. 'It takes a lot of hard work and consistency and effort to get anywhere where you can kind of make a living. But I've always been passionate about it, so I enjoy what I do … there was no money for me for, you know, a good 10 years of my career and I kept doing it.
The Age
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
It's the world's fastest-growing sport. A new series will bring MMA into lounge rooms across Australia
Rob Wilkinson reckons cauliflower ears are an occupational hazard. Fellow world champion Jacinta Austin has, fortunately, managed to avoid any such souvenirs during her mixed martial arts career. Both are hopeful that their sport will be showcased on a whole new level after the launch on Tuesday of the Professional Fighters League Pacific series, which chief executive Peter Murray predicted would deliver 'the most accessible MMA experience Australia has ever seen'. While the Ultimate Fighting Championship remains the most high-profile and lucrative of the MMA codes, Murray said there were more than enough athletes and fans to warrant multiple series. 'It's the fastest-growing sport in the world,' Murray said. 'Over 600 million fans, 80 per cent outside the US … UFC cannot fulfil all that demand, and they can't create the pathways for all the great athletes and fighters around the world.' Televised by Stan, 9Now and the 9Network, Murray said PFL Pacific will stage four events in 2026, starting with Sydney and Melbourne, as well as New Zealand. The best-performed local fighters will then advance to the even more lucrative Champions Series in Dubai. For Hobart-born 'Razor' Wilkinson, a world champion in the light-heavyweight division, PFL Pacific will provide an opportunity to inspire the next generation of Australian fighters. 'It's like any professional sport,' he said. 'It takes a lot of hard work and consistency and effort to get anywhere where you can kind of make a living. But I've always been passionate about it, so I enjoy what I do … there was no money for me for, you know, a good 10 years of my career and I kept doing it.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Professional Fighters League expands globally with Pacific division launch in Australia and New Zealand
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) launched its PFL Pacific division on May 13, 2025, which is the organization's fourth international division. The division covers Oceania, spanning Australia and New Zealand. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This strategic move is after successful launches in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, with PFL Africa also coming in July 2025. The new division will run under PFL's trademark 'win and advance' tournament, giving regional fighters unparalleled chances to fight for life-changing amounts of prize money in the global spotlight. Australian talent pathway to receive unprecedented boost The first PFL Pacific Tournament will debut in 2026, with four live events where regional best fighters will duke it out in single elimination brackets. This development provides an open route to international fame for Australian and New Zealand fighters without the use of conventional promotional media. Notably, PFL has the desire to produce more Australian MMA champions than any other organization within three years. Stan Acting Managing Director Dan Taylor highlighted the partnership's significance: "As Australia's only locally owned streamer, we're proud to help power that growth from the ground up." The agreement makes Stan the exclusive home for the entire PFL portfolio in Australia, with live streaming on Stan Sport and select premium events available on Stan pay-per-view. Global stars and local heroes set to collide in 2026 Apart from the regional tournament, the Pacific region will host the events of PFL's Champions Series. Such a combination guarantees that the fans are going to watch both the grassroots development and the world-class competition. The expansion is based on the success of Australian MMA talents, for instance, Rob Wilkinson and Chelsea Hackett, who have already registered in PFL competitions. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The fans can expect to see emerging stars from the same region that has brought the UFC champions Israel Adesanya and Jack Della Maddalena to the world stage. Also Read: The PFL Pacific will also be widely distributed over streaming, pay-per-view, and free-to-air platforms, making for what will be the most accessible MMA viewing experience ever for Australian audiences when it rolls out next year.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 PFL World Tournament 4 live results, highlights
PFL continues first-round action Thursday with 2025 PFL World Tournament 4, and MMA Junkie has you covered with live results and highlights throughout the event beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. 2025 PFL World Tournament 4 takes place at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Fla., and broadcasts live on ESPN2 and ESPN+. The event featured opening-round tournament bouts in the heavweight and light heavyweight divisions. In the main event, former Bellator light heavyweight champion Phil Davis (24-7) takes on 2022 PFL champion Rob Wilkinson (19-3). In the co-feature, former Bellator interim heavyweight champion Valentin Moldavsky (13-4) takes on Sergey Bilostenniy (13-3). MAIN CARD (ESPN2, ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET) Phil Davis vs. Rob Wilkinson Sergey Bilostenniy vs. Valentin Moldavsky Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Karl Moore Karl Albrektsson vs. Simeon Powell PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET) Tim Johnson vs. Alexandr Romanov Oleg Popov vs. Karl Williams Sullivan Cauley vs. Marcelo Nunes Abraham Bably vs. Rodrigo Nascimento Alex Polizzi vs. Rafael Xavier This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: 2025 PFL World Tournament 4 live results, highlights
USA Today
01-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 PFL World Tournament 4 live results, highlights
2025 PFL World Tournament 4 live results, highlights PFL continues first-round action Thursday with 2025 PFL World Tournament 4, and MMA Junkie has you covered with live results and highlights throughout the event beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. 2025 PFL World Tournament 4 takes place at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Fla., and broadcasts live on ESPN2 and ESPN+. The event featured opening-round tournament bouts in the heavweight and light heavyweight divisions. In the main event, former Bellator light heavyweight champion Phil Davis (24-7) takes on 2022 PFL champion Rob Wilkinson (19-3). In the co-feature, former Bellator interim heavyweight champion Valentin Moldavsky (13-4) takes on Sergey Bilostenniy (13-3). 2025 PFL World Tournament 4 results MAIN CARD (ESPN2, ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET) Phil Davis vs. Rob Wilkinson Sergey Bilostenniy vs. Valentin Moldavsky Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Karl Moore Karl Albrektsson vs. Simeon Powell PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET) Tim Johnson vs. Alexandr Romanov Oleg Popov vs. Karl Williams Sullivan Cauley vs. Marcelo Nunes Abraham Bably vs. Rodrigo Nascimento Alex Polizzi vs. Rafael Xavier 2025 PFL World Tournament 4 weigh-in photos
