Quillan Salkilld has revealed that a future fight against UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje remains one of his biggest career ambitions, although the Australian knows he still has work to do before earning a title shot.
Speaking with Full Send MMA ahead of his clash with Mateusz Gamrot this weekend at UFC Vegas 120, Salkilld admitted he hopes Gaethje continues competing long enough for the two to eventually meet inside the Octagon. He said:
“I kind of hope so because I’ve always thought it would be cool to fight him. He’s always in these grueling battles. I’d love to have a scrap with him.”
Check out Quillan Salkilld’s comments below:
Gaethje enters the conversation as the undisputed UFC lightweight champion after capturing the title with a victory over Ilia Topuria at the historic UFC White House event. However, with ‘The Highlight’ set to turn 38 later this year, speculation has already begun about how much longer he intends to compete at the highest level.
For Salkilld, a championship opportunity is still some distance away. The surging Australian is currently focused on the biggest fight of his UFC career against top-ranked contender Mateusz Gamrot. A win over the elite Polish wrestler would represent the most significant victory of Salkilld’s career and firmly establish him as a genuine contender in the talent-stacked lightweight division.
Quillan Salkilld believes Justin Gaethje matchup would deliver fireworks
Quillan Salkilld has enjoyed a remarkable rise since earning his UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series. He has quickly emerged as one of the promotion’s most exciting prospects, with his explosive knockout power and polished boxing producing several highlight-reel finishes, including a statement victory over veteran lightweight Beneil Dariush in his last outing. His willingness to engage in thrilling exchanges, coupled with his ability to end fights with a single shot, has made him one of the fastest-rising names at 155 pounds.
Those attributes are also why a potential clash with Gaethje is so appealing. Both fighters have built their reputations on aggressive striking, relentless pressure, and fight-ending power, making the matchup one that would almost certainly deliver fireworks.
Before Salkilld can begin thinking about championship gold, however, he must first overcome the toughest challenge of his career. Gamrot has long been regarded as one of the division’s elite contenders, and defeating him would likely move the Australian significantly closer to the title picture.
If Salkilld continues his meteoric rise, his dream of testing himself against one of the UFC’s most accomplished lightweights could eventually become a reality.
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