When Quillan Salkilld forced a tap from Mateusz Gamrot at 4:25 of the opening round on Saturday night at the UFC APEX, he did more than headline his first promotional event. The 26-year-old Australian extended his professional winning streak to 13 fights, secured his fourth consecutive first-round finish, and forcefully knocked down the door to the lightweight division's upper tier.
Entering the main event as a -154 favorite on FanDuel, Salkilld actively courted the pairing, explaining at media day that he had long envisioned a test against Gamrot's elite grappling pedigree rather than seeking an easier path through the rankings. That stylistic confrontation materialized immediately in Las Vegas. During an extensive, high-paced grappling exchange, Salkilld was forced to navigate a dangerous leg-lock attempt from the veteran before working his way to Gamrot's back and locking in the decisive rear-naked choke just before the first-round horn.
The victory elevates Salkilld's professional record to 13-1, with five knockouts and five submissions, while dropping Gamrot to 26-5. Having entered the event holding the number 12 spot in the lightweight rankings while Gamrot sat at number eight, Salkilld made it clear during his post-fight remarks that his ambitions have shifted upward.
I think I deserve someone who's in the top five or close to it,
Salkilld said after the bout, as reported by ABC News.
Saturday's card marked the UFC's return to Las Vegas following international stops in Abu Dhabi and Belgrade. The evening's co-main event saw Diego Ferreira land over 135 significant strikes across 15 minutes to earn a clean 30-27 sweep across all three judges' scorecards against Billy Quarantillo, who was making his first Octagon appearance in more than 600 days. Earlier on the main card, Yadier del Valle spoiled Darren Elkins's retirement fight by securing a TKO stoppage with a single left hook just 35 seconds into the opening round, while strawweight Alexia Thainara used a relentless pace and varied takedowns to take a unanimous decision from Amanda Lemos.
For Salkilld, the rapid trajectory from regional circuits in Western Australia to the UFC lightweight rankings has been defined by versatility. Having already stopped names such as Beneil Dariush, Jamie Mullarkey, and Nasrat Haqparast, the Luistro Combat Academy product has repeatedly demonstrated that opponents cannot focus solely on his striking or wrestling. By surviving Gamrot's leg-lock and turning the scramble into a rear-naked choke, Salkilld answered the toughest stylistic question of his career and positioned himself squarely for the division's elite.
Sources
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- dojonewsnetwork.com original
- sherdog.com original
- bjpenn.com original
- abc.net.au original
