The Professional Fighting League World Championship heavyweight finale features Russian Omari Akhmedov and Australian Rob Wilkinson going head-to-head for the $1.5 million prize money and the heavyweight title. The fight will take place at PFL 10 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Aussie is the favourite to win with the bookies. We profile the fighters and present betting odds.
MMA: PFL World Championships Heavyweight finale
Location: Hulu Theater, Madison Square Garden, New York City
Date: 26-11-2022: 04:00
Where to watch: ESPN+ PPV
Omari Akhmedov
Pundits have suggested that Omari Akhmedov’s best path to victory will be his pure speed, as he has a height deficit against Wilkinson. The 35-year-old Russian made his pro debut in 2010. After about eight years in the UFC, bagging a couple of Fights of the Night, he switched to PFL in 2021. A debut loss against Jordan Young was followed by three wins, including over Josh Silveira for the 2021 PFL Light Heavyweight semifinals. Silveira replaced Antonio Carlos Junior who suffered an ACL before the semifinals. “Wolverine” also has accomplished careers in free-style wrestling and combat sambo.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 35
- Height: 6”
- Weight: 205 Ib
- Reach: 73”
- Total: 32
- Record: 24-7-1
Rob Wilkinson
The Aussie’s last fight in UFC was a loss to debutant Israel Adesanya in 2018. That was the second loss in two UFC fights, ending his association with the promotion. Since then, he has been unbeaten in five fights across several promotions, with three of those fights in the PFL. This year he has secured three victories with a fantastic knockout of Delan Monte in the semifinals. Monte came winging punches at him in the first round pushing Wilkinson back. Counter-punching from the Aussie led to a fist and knee catching Monte in the chin, and that was it: A first-round knockout for “Razor”.
Rob Wilkinson looks very, very fit, strong – no wasted energy or muscle mass on that man's frame at 205 (pounds). He looks every bit like a 205er. He looks very, very powerful at that weight. He's got versatility and he's got physicality. He's a bull right now, he's dangerous. I just don't think anyone has impressed me from start to finish as Rob Wilkinson has. I just think he knows exactly who he is, he knows exactly why he's here, he knows exactly what he's doing.
Brett Okamoto (ESPN)
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 30
- Height: 6’ 3”
- Weight: 205 Ibs
- Reach: N/A
- Total: 18
- Record: 16-2
Betting Odds
Wilkinson is the short-price favorite to win at 1.40 odds on Betway. His Russian opponent is 2.60 odds to win for those hunting for value. 1xbet prices the underdog at 2.832 odds. Bet365 has Wilkinson to win at 1. 50 odds.