Daijiworld Media Network – Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Aug 7: Rising Australian lightweight Quillan Salkilld will face the toughest test of his UFC career when he takes on eighth-ranked Mateusz Gamrot in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday.
The 26-year-old enters the contest with an impressive 12-1 professional record and an unbeaten 5-0 run in the UFC, having secured four finishes and four consecutive Performance of the Night bonuses.
Salkilld said he specifically wanted to face Gamrot, one of the division's top-ranked grapplers, as he looks to prove he belongs among the elite.
The Australian revealed that he split his training camp between Perth and Las Vegas, spending the final month preparing at the UFC Performance Institute and Syndicate MMA to get ready for his first five-round main event.
Despite the significance of the occasion, Salkilld said the only major adjustment has been preparing for a five-round fight, adding that headlining a UFC event in Las Vegas is a dream come true.
Gamrot enters the bout with notable victories over Rafael dos Anjos, Rafael Fiziev and Arman Tsarukyan and is widely regarded as one of the lightweight division's toughest competitors.
However, Salkilld expressed confidence in his abilities, saying he already believes he belongs among the top fighters in the division and views a victory over Gamrot as an opportunity to prove it to the rest of the MMA world.
The Australian said his long-term goal is to climb through the rankings step by step, beginning with a place in the top 10 before eventually challenging for the UFC lightweight title.
Reflecting on his recent victory over Beneil Dariush, Salkilld said remaining calm under pressure has been one of his greatest strengths and credited both experience and natural composure for helping him overcome difficult moments inside the Octagon.
Looking beyond Saturday's contest, Salkilld said he is open to facing any top-ranked lightweight, including Paddy Pimblett, Benoit Saint Denis, Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway, Ilia Topuria or Justin Gaethje, provided the fight moves him closer to title contention.
For now, though, his full attention remains on Gamrot as he looks to secure the biggest win of his career in Las Vegas.