Australia’s Rob Wilkinson has started the new PFL season with a clinical performance, defeating Thiago Santos by unanimous decision in Las Vegas on Sunday (AEST).
Wilkinson started the season with a different approach, opting not to go punch-for-punch with Santos.
Instead, last year’s $1.5 million champion spent the lion’s share of the contest grappling, making seven takedowns while his opponent made none.
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That ultimately paid dividends for Wilkinson who kept Santos out of the contest as he fought to find a way out of the Australian’s stranglehold.
The second round offered Santos a chance to turn the tide.
He got on Wilkinson’s back for all of 10 seconds only for the momentum to swing back.
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The pair did exchange blows in the third round, which left Wilkinson with a welt above his left eye while Santos began bleeding from the head.
Wilkinson landed 57 of his 91 strikes while Santos went 43 from 75.
Leg strikes were a point of difference for Wilkinson too, who made 24 from 30 while Santos was four from 11.
Santos threatened to steal the win with a flurry of punches and kicks in the dying moments.
But Wilkinson’s work in the first and second rounds ultimately made the difference and he was awarded the win, 29-28.
With the win, Wilkinson earned three points in the light heavyweight division.
Marthin Hamlet and Joshua Silveira sit atop the PFL standings after their bonus point wins over Mohammad Fakherddine and Sam Kei respectively, both by submission.
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