UFC Vegas 120 has come and gone. Whereas it wasn’t a stacked card from high to backside, it produced one of many 12 months’s most spectacular performances.
Quillan Salkilld got here into Saturday night time as one of many brighter prospects at 155 and within the UFC generally. After a dominant win over the skilled Mateusz Gamrot, expectations are hovering for the way good the Australian fighter might be.
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Salkilld secured the victory by way of first-round submission. This was one-way visitors for so long as it lasted. Salkilld caught Gamrot on the toes early with a left hook after which dominated on the bottom earlier than discovering Gamrot’s neck for the choke.
This was an enormous bounce in competitors. Earlier than Saturday night time, Salkilld’s largest win was towards an growing older Beneil Dariush, who’s 1-4 in his final 5 fights and 37 years previous. Gamrot isn’t a spring rooster by any means at 35, however he was not less than coming off a win towards a troublesome Esteban Ribovics.
After displaying Gamrot that there are ranges within the light-weight division, one other bounce in competitors is imminent. The one query is who, will Salkilld combat?
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Quillan Salkilld ought to face…
There’s just one proper reply right here in the case of an elite subsequent opponent for Salkilld. The subsequent time UFC followers see Salkilld within the octagon, it ought to be towards Max Holloway.
Holloway is contemporary off a win towards Conor McGregor. The combat lasted simply over a minute, and Holloway didn’t take a single punch. If Holloway is severe about changing into a UFC champion as soon as once more, then that path is again at 155 kilos and towards the surging Salkilld.
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The opposite motive that is essentially the most logical matchup is that the highest of 155 ought to be booked as much as finish this 12 months and begin 2027.
Ilia Topuria vs Paddy Pimblett is the most effective non-title combat to make within the sport. Arman Tsarukyan vs Mauricio Ruffy is booked for UFC 311 in Los Angeles. That matchup in September leaves Justin Gaethje with only one viable contender to combat: Charles Oliveira.
Holloway didn’t have a viable combat at 155, however now he does, and it’s not a straightforward one both. Salkilld proved he’s top-of-the-line lightweights on the planet.
