Rising Aussie UFC star calls for tougher fighters after first-round win

Australian UFC fighter Quillan Salkilld continued his dominant run by winning his first main event bout against veteran Mateusz Gamrot. Salkilld secured a victory via rear-naked choke in the first round of their lightweight non-title bout at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas.

The 26-year-old Salkilld, now ranked 12th in the lightweight division, survived a leg-lock attempt from Gamrot before executing a successful grappling exchange to secure the submission. This win marks his 13th consecutive victory and his fifth win in the first round in his last six fights, solidifying his position as a rapidly rising contender.

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I think I deserve someone who's in the top five or close to it.

After the bout, Salkilld voiced his ambition for a significant step up in competition. "I think I deserve someone who's in the top five or close to it," he stated, positioning himself for a potential matchup against a higher-ranked opponent. Gamrot, ranked eighth, suffered a setback in the division.

The event also featured other notable bouts, including Diego Ferreira's unanimous decision win over Billy Quarantillo and Yadier del Valle's swift TKO victory against Darren Elkins in Elkins' retirement fight. Alexia Thainara earned a unanimous decision against Amanda Lemos, and Ty Miller remained undefeated with a TKO win.

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I'm thankful for it all … don't ever give up on yourself.