Quillan Salkilld could be the next big thing at lightweight. Already a rapidly rising Oceanic name, Salkilld’s first UFC Fight Night main event is a launching pad into the wider MMA consciousness. His rise feels inevitable, but Mateusz Gamrot has other plans.Salkilld (12-1) is well on his way to “speed running” the lightweight division. It’s a gamer term for completing a video game as fast as possible. Salkilld’s game of choice is far more treacherous. Salkilld is 5-0 since his Octagon debut last year, finishing four opponents. He made a memorable early impression, earning CBS Sports’ 2025 Knockout of the Year against Nasrat Haqparast and most recently KOing perennial title contender Beneil Dariush. Well on his way to accomplishing a challenging goal in the sport’s deepest division, a win over Gamrot puts Salkilld in the top 10 exactly 18 months after his UFC debut.Sign up for Paramount+ and watch UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Salkilld for no additional fee — every UFC numbered event and UFC Fight Night is included with your subscription! Plans start as low as $8.99/month or $89.99/year!
“I don’t want to cherry-pick my way to the top. I want these hard fights,” Salkilld told CBS Sports. “I respect Gamrot a lot and respect his skillset. I think his most dangerous attribute is just his ability to push his wrestling pace for the whole fight. He’s going to be nonstop on the attack with the grappling. “This test is why I specifically called him out. I want these tough moments and these tests. I want to gain a lot of respect after this one.”
Gamrot (26-4, 1 NC) knows the feeling of lofty expectations. He looked like a future title challenger after defeating Arman Tsarukyan, who recently booked a co-main event slot at UFC 331, after five rounds of the most exciting grappling exchanges in MMA history. Unfortunately, he’s struggled against the very best. Losses to former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira and Dariush, the latter of whom was on the cusp of a title shot at the time, have kept him just shy of elite status. Saturday’s main event is a crucial opportunity to crush Salkilld’s ascent and prepare for his own climb.
“I understand the politics. The most important thing is finishing the fight. I cleared my mind. I’ve changed my style a little bit. I am patient,” Gamrot told CBS Sports. “I took two of the biggest prospects before. I finish this guy. I have another big name in front of me. Quillan Salkilld has a lot of…
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2026-08-08 15:07:04
