Quillan Salkilld stamped his name on the lightweight division at UFC Vegas 120, submitting former KSW champion Mateusz Gamrot in the main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
The undefeated Australian stung Gamrot early with a jab before the Polish grappler pulled the bout to the canvas and went for a leg lock. Salkilld worked his way free, secured Gamrot’s back, briefly lost position, then re-secured it and forced the tap at 4:25 of Round 1.
Speaking after the match, Salkilld addressed the leg lock moment that nearly cost him.
“A bit scared, not going to lie. When he had the knee bar, I was like, not like this… I maneuvered my leg in a certain way where I just eased off a bit of pressure and was focusing on just trying to get my knee line free.”
“After that first initial five-second squeeze, I knew that my leg was going to be all right. I just had to not let him readjust, especially because that early in the fig ht we’re still not sweating. My leg felt stuck like I couldn’t drag it out.”
On securing the choke, reading the grappling position made the difference.
“I went for the rear n*ked like twice and it just wasn’t on. If you’re well versed in the grappling, you know when you can get the choke and you know when you’re not.”
“When he readjusted, I snatched that neck up. Even though it wasn’t clean on the neck, it was good enough where I could put my secondary hand behind his head and I just knew I had to squeeze the living daylights out of him. You either tap or go to sleep.”
Salkilld left no doubt about what the performance meant to him.
“I got to prove to everyone that I belong in that top echelon of the division and that I can finish the match not only on the feet but on the ground also.”
On why his game holds up across all areas, the Australian pointed to his training philosophy.
“I don’t slack off in any discipline. I’m no specialist. If you’re a specialist in this game, eventually you’re going to get exposed in those areas. I just train to have zero holes in my game.”
Salkilld confirmed a knee issue from the match will shape his timeline, though he has November at Madison Square Garden firmly in mind.
“I have a little bit of a twinge in the knee right now from one of the wrestling exchanges. That’s the next thing on my mind. Then we’ll be looking at closing in on that top five.”
His ultimate target, however, remains unchanged.
“The dream’s the belt. Whoever is going to get me there, I don’t really care.”
¡Una verdadera locura! 🤯
Quillan Salkilld hace una verdadera declaración en la división del peso ligero al someter a Gamrot en el primer round de la pelea. 🔥#UFCVegas120 pic.twitter.com/WbHt72C3Pd
— Paramount+ Deportes (@PPlusDeportes) August 9, 2026
