No (more) easy fights!
Red-hot Australian Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight prospect Quillan Salkilld competes in his first UFC main event this weekend against No. 8-ranked Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Vegas 120, which goes down Sat., Aug. 8, 2026, inside Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
After knocking out perennial Lightweight contender Beneil Dariush in his last outing (watch highlights), the 26-year-old Aussie called out Gamrot for his next fight.
And UFC listened.
Now, with the fight just
days away, Salkilld revealed that he wanted Gamrot specifically because he is done taking easy fights (like this). He wants the toughest road possible to the top of the Lightweight division.
“I called for it after my last fight, and I’m glad that they gave it,” Salkilld told reporters during UFC Vegas 120 media day. “He’s a super tough fighter and no picnic for anyone — that’s exactly why I wanted the fight. I’m not looking to cherry-pick my way up to the top of the division. I want hard fights. I want someone who is going to put a lot of respect on my name when I beat them.
“I’m not going to call out anyone who I think is going to be easy,” Salkilld continued. “That would make me a p—sy.”
He definitely did not call out someone easy.
Gamrot is one of the toughest outs in the Lightweight division. His only UFC losses have come against Charles Oliveira (watch it), Dan Hooker via split decision, a pre-washed Dariush and Guram Kutateladze in a questionable split decision in his UFC debut.
Oh, and he also holds a win over Arman Tsarukyan.
So, yeah, Gamrot is a problem.
He has also taken out two very good prospects in two of his last three fights (watch highlights), and now he gets another one in Salkilld.
The Aussie knows exactly what he signed up for.
“I’ve been wanting to fight him for a long time, for ages,” Salkilld said. “He’s someone who’s respected, and he’s always someone I’ve envisioned fighting, ever since I was coming up through the pro ranks. He’s always someone I’ve pictured fighting and a fun test to go up against. That’s exactly why I called him out. The timing was right.”
While Gamrot’s wrestling-heavy style has derailed plenty of Lightweight contenders, Salkilld believes his own complete skill set will be the difference.
“My ability to mix it up and well-roundedness is my strength,” Salkilld said. “My ability to attack and finish the fight at any point is my strong suit.”
Salkilld is currently a slight -115 betting favorite to defeat Gamrot and launch himself into the Top 10 rankings.
Not bad for a fighter who could have easily asked for a softer landing after smashing Dariush.
Instead, he called out …dun dun dun… Gamrot.
For the rest of the UFC Vegas 120 fight card and Paramount+ lineup click here.
