Australian lightweight makes a major statement in his first UFC main event, extending his winning streak with a dominant submission victory
Quillan Salkilld delivered the biggest win of his UFC career on Saturday night, submitting Mateusz Gamrot by rear-naked choke in the first round of the UFC Fight Night main event at Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
Salkilld secured the finish at 4:25 of Round 1, handing the experienced Polish lightweight a decisive defeat and continuing his rapid rise in the UFC's 155-pound division. The victory improved Salkilld's professional record to 13-1 and his UFC record to 6-0. UFC Stats lists the result as a first-round rear-naked choke submission.
The victory was especially significant because Gamrot entered the matchup as an established ranked lightweight with extensive experience against top competition. Rather than allowing the veteran to impose his wrestling-heavy style, Salkilld was able to dictate the pace and create opportunities in both the striking and grappling exchanges.
Salkilld showed confidence from the opening bell. The Australian mixed his attacks on the feet and looked to keep Gamrot reacting instead of settling into his preferred rhythm. He connected with strikes while also remaining prepared for Gamrot's attempts to turn the fight into a grappling contest.
That approach ultimately paid off.
Salkilld found his opening on the ground and transitioned into a dominant position before taking Gamrot's back. Once he established control, he patiently worked toward the submission. The Australian eventually locked in the rear-naked choke, forcing Gamrot to tap and bringing the main event to an end with just 35 seconds remaining in the opening round.
The result continued an impressive run for Salkilld, who has quickly established himself as one of Australia's most promising UFC fighters. Before facing Gamrot, he had already built a perfect 5-0 record inside the UFC after earning his contract through Dana White's Contender Series in September 2024. His victory over Gamrot made it six straight UFC wins.
Salkilld's professional record now stands at 13-1. His only professional loss came early in his career, while his recent run has steadily pushed him toward the upper tier of the UFC lightweight division.
The Gamrot matchup represented another significant test because of the Polish veteran's experience. Gamrot entered the contest with a 26-4 record, but the first-round submission dropped him to 26-5. His UFC record also fell to 9-5 following the defeat. ESPN's official fight results confirm Gamrot's 26-5 record after the contest.
Gamrot had previously faced many of the division's best fighters and was known for his wrestling, grappling and ability to maintain a high pace over the course of a fight. His résumé made him a difficult opponent for a rising contender looking to establish himself among the UFC's elite.
Salkilld, however, produced a performance that left little doubt about his ability to compete with experienced opposition.
The Australian's development has been particularly notable because his UFC victories have come against increasingly challenging competition. His UFC résumé before the Gamrot fight included victories over Anshul Jubli, Yanal Ashmouz, Nasrat Haqparast, Jamie Mullarkey and Beneil Dariush. The Gamrot victory now gives him another significant name to add to that list.
The manner of the victory also adds to Salkilld's momentum. Rather than relying on a close decision, he finished the fight inside one round, giving him another stoppage to add to his growing résumé. ESPN described the result as Salkilld's fourth consecutive first-round finish, highlighting the consistency of his ability to end fights early.
For Salkilld, the win also marked an important milestone because it came in his first UFC main event. Fighting five rounds for the first time at the UFC level could have presented a different challenge, particularly against a veteran such as Gamrot. Instead, Salkilld never allowed the contest to reach the later rounds.
The victory puts Salkilld in an increasingly strong position within the lightweight division. While his next opponent has not been determined, defeating a ranked veteran in such emphatic fashion gives him a strong argument for another high-level matchup.
At only 26 years old, Salkilld still has considerable room to develop. His combination of striking, wrestling and submission ability has already made him a difficult matchup, while his recent results suggest that he is becoming increasingly comfortable against experienced UFC competition.
Gamrot, meanwhile, will have to regroup following the setback. The loss ended his night quickly and halted his momentum in a highly competitive division.
For Salkilld, the opposite is true.
He entered the main event as a rising contender looking to prove that he belonged among the division's established names. He left Las Vegas with a first-round submission victory over an experienced ranked opponent, a 13-1 professional record and a perfect 6-0 mark in the UFC.
The next challenge will be determining just how high Salkilld can climb. After another impressive finish, the Australian has positioned himself as one of the lightweight division's fighters to watch.
