Mike Wilkinson (born September 15, 1987) is an English professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Featherweight and Lightweight divisions, most notably representing the United Kingdom in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Full Name: Michael Wilkinson
Nickname: The Warrior
Born: Leigh, Greater Manchester, England
Height: 5' 8" (173 cm)
Division: Featherweight (145 lbs) / Lightweight (155 lbs)
Team: Atherton Submission Wrestling
Professional MMA Record
Biography & Early Career
Born and raised in Leigh, Greater Manchester, Wilkinson began training in submission wrestling and boxing at a young age. He joined Atherton Submission Wrestling (ASW), developing a reputation in the local UK scene for his aggressive top-control grappling and heavy punching power.
Wilkinson made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2009. He quickly went on an impressive 7-fight win streak in regional promotions across the United Kingdom, finishing six of his seven opponents before catching the attention of UFC scouts in 2012.
The Ultimate Fighter & UFC Career
The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes
In late 2012, Wilkinson was selected to participate in The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes, a tournament matching prospects from the United Kingdom against prospects from Australia. Competing in the Lightweight tournament, Wilkinson defeated Australian fighter Amir Khan via TKO in the elimination round. However, due to a severe training injury (broken collarbone) suffered after his first match, he was forced to withdraw from the tournament semifinals.
UFC Debuts and Notable Victories
Despite the injury, the UFC signed Wilkinson directly. He made his official promotional debut on December 15, 2012, at the TUF Smashes Finale in Gold Coast, Australia, where he fought fellow UK competitor Brendan Loughnane. Wilkinson won the hard-fought bout via Unanimous Decision, solidifying his spot on the roster.
After dropping a submission loss to Rony Jason in Brazil, Wilkinson returned to action at UFC Fight Night 53 in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 4, 2014. Facing highly touted Swedish prospect Niklas Bäckström in front of Bäckström's hometown crowd, Wilkinson was a significant betting underdog. Early in the first round, Bäckström aggressively pushed forward, but Wilkinson connected with a perfectly timed counter right hand, knocking Bäckström down and finishing the fight with ground punches at just 1:19 of Round 1. The spectacular upset earned Wilkinson the UFC's **Performance of the Night** bonus.
"The right-hand counter from Wilkinson was one of the cleanest highlights of the year, silencing the Swedish crowd and showcasing his raw power at featherweight."
Later Bout & Release
Wilkinson faced Finnish grappler Makwan Amirkhani at UFC Fight Night 84 on February 27, 2016, in London, England. He lost the bout via Unanimous Decision after being controlled on the ground by Amirkhani's wrestling. Following the match, Wilkinson was released from the promotion. He fought one final bout in Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB) in 2017 before retiring from active professional competition.
Professional Fight History Table
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round / Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 9–4 | Daniel Teymur | KO (Knee and Punches) | ACB 65: Silva vs. Agujev | July 22, 2017 | Round 2, 2:44 |
| Loss | 9–3 | Makwan Amirkhani | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping | February 27, 2016 | Round 3, 5:00 |
| Win | 9–2 | Niklas Bäckström | KO (Punches) | UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Story | October 4, 2014 | Round 1, 1:19 |
| Loss | 8–2 | Rony Jason | Technical Submission (Triangle Choke) | UFC on Fuel TV: Nogueira vs. Werdum | June 8, 2013 | Round 1, 1:24 |
| Win | 8–1 | Brendan Loughnane | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC on Fuel TV: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson | December 15, 2012 | Round 3, 5:00 |