Mike Wilkinson 2025: Net Worth, Fight Purses, Endorsements

Mike Wilkinson, known in the mixed martial arts world as “The Warrior,” has built a respectable career as an English MMA fighter who competed in the lightweight and featherweight divisions.

Though not widely recognized outside hardcore MMA circles, Wilkinson’s journey through The Ultimate Fighter series and subsequent UFC career carved him a place in British MMA history.

This article provides complete details about his career trajectory, financial status, fight record, and personal life in 2025. You’ll discover his net worth, career highlights, early beginnings, and what he’s been doing since his departure from the UFC.

Mike Wilkinson’s Biography

Early Career

Mike Wilkinson began his mixed martial arts journey in the late 2000s, training at Atherton Submission Wrestling in England. His passion for fighting developed during his youth, leading him to pursue MMA professionally.

Unlike many fighters who transition from other combat sports, Wilkinson focused specifically on developing a well-rounded MMA game from the start of his athletic career.

Wilkinson made his professional debut on August 8, 2009, at OMMAC 1: Assassins, where he showcased his submission skills by defeating Tom Clarke via armbar in the first round. This victory set the tone for his early career, demonstrating his natural grappling ability that would become a hallmark of his fighting style. Before this official pro debut, Wilkinson had already tested his skills in Burnley Brawl 1, defeating Mick Herret via TKO.

Following his successful debut, Wilkinson continued to build momentum in various UK promotions. He competed primarily in the OMMAC (Olympian MMA Championships) series, which was one of the premier MMA promotions in England at that time.

His second professional fight came in March 2010 at OMMAC 4, where he defeated Neil Spring via rear-naked choke submission in the first round, further establishing his submission prowess.

Throughout 2010 and 2011, Wilkinson remained active in the British MMA scene, amassing an impressive undefeated record. His fighting style became known for aggressive striking combined with opportunistic submission attempts.

In June 2010, he defeated Ali Maclean at OMMAC 5 via rear-naked choke in the second round. Later that year, in November 2010, he continued his winning streak by submitting Craig Allen, again using his favorite submission, the rear-naked choke.

In 2011, Wilkinson faced tougher competition but continued his rise through the ranks. At Raw 1: Enter Colosseum in September 2011, he defeated Artem Lobov (who would later gain fame in the UFC) via TKO in the second round. He followed this with a unanimous decision win over Brian Moore at OMMAC 12 in November 2011, showing he could go the distance when needed.

Wilkinson’s undefeated streak and impressive performances caught the attention of UFC scouts, leading to his selection for The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes in 2012. This tournament, which pitted fighters from the UK against those from Australia, represented Wilkinson’s big break and opportunity to secure a UFC contract.

During the show, Wilkinson defeated Grant Blackler of the Australian team via first-round submission, continuing to showcase his submission skills. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury in training that prevented him from continuing in the tournament.

Despite this setback, his performance was impressive enough that UFC officials still offered him a fight at the season finale, giving him the chance to earn a UFC contract despite the injury.

Professional Career

Despite the injury setback during The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes, Mike Wilkinson was given an opportunity to prove himself in the UFC. His promotional debut came on December 15, 2012, at UFC on FX 6, where he faced fellow countryman Brendan Loughnane.

In what would become a pattern throughout his career, Wilkinson overcame adversity to secure a unanimous decision victory, impressing UFC officials and earning a contract with the world’s premier MMA organization.

However, Wilkinson’s UFC journey would prove to be filled with both highs and lows. His second UFC bout came against Brazilian fighter Rony Jason at UFC on Fuel TV 10 in June 2013.

In this contest, Wilkinson suffered the first professional loss of his career when Jason caught him in a triangle choke in the first round, resulting in a technical submission loss. This defeat provided valuable lessons for Wilkinson, who took time to recover and improve his skills before returning to the octagon.

After more than a year away from competition, Wilkinson made a spectacular comeback at UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Story on October 4, 2014. Facing the highly-touted Swedish prospect Niklas Bäckström, Wilkinson delivered one of the most memorable performances of his career.

Despite entering as a significant underdog, he shocked the MMA world by knocking out Bäckström in just 79 seconds of the first round. This emphatic victory earned Wilkinson the coveted Performance of the Night bonus and reinvigorated his UFC career, showcasing his power and striking ability.

Following this career-defining win, Wilkinson was scheduled to face Alan Omer at UFC Fight Night 69 in June 2015. However, continuing a frustrating pattern in his career, he suffered an injury that forced his withdrawal from the bout.

Injuries played a significant role in limiting Wilkinson’s activity during his UFC tenure, preventing him from building the momentum needed to climb the divisional rankings.

Wilkinson returned to action at UFC Fight Night 84 in February 2016, facing rising Finnish-Kurdish star Makwan Amirkhani in London. In a closely contested bout, Wilkinson ultimately lost via unanimous decision.

This defeat proved consequential for his career, as the UFC subsequently released him from his contract in April 2016, ending his tenure with the promotion after compiling a 2-2 record.

Following his UFC release, Wilkinson continued his career in other promotions, signing with Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB). His ACB debut came in July 2016 against Soso Nizharadze, resulting in a unanimous decision loss.

Undeterred, Wilkinson continued competing, facing former opponent Brendan Loughnane in a rematch at ACB 54 in March 2017. Unfortunately, the result was different from their first encounter, with Loughnane securing a knockout victory over Wilkinson in the first round.

Wilkinson’s most recent documented professional bout came at Eternal MMA 42 on March 23, 2019, where he faced David Martinez and lost via rear-naked choke submission. Throughout his career, Wilkinson became known for his aggressive fighting style, willingness to engage in striking exchanges, and submission skills.

While his professional record may not reflect the full extent of his abilities, his performances, particularly his knockout win over Bäckström, demonstrated his potential as a dangerous competitor in the featherweight division.

Mike Wilkinson’s Net Worth Details

Mike Wilkinson’s net worth is estimated to be $1 million as of 2025.

Fight Purses

Career Records