Australian Quillan Salkilld has his next assignment, and it could be the biggest fight of his career so far. The Australian lightweight is set to face Benoit Saint-Denis in the main event of UFC Sydney, with the two scheduled for a five-round showdown on home soil.
The Fight Night event will take place on February 7 at the Afterpay Arena in Sydney, Australia. The UFC officially announced the matchup on its social media accounts, setting up a major test for Salkilld after his impressive submission win over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Vegas 120.
Salkilld's Rapid Rise
Salkilld has quickly emerged as one of the UFC's most exciting lightweight prospects. The 26-year-old holds a 13-1 professional record and remains undefeated inside the Octagon at 6-0. He has also been finishing opponents at an incredible rate, with four consecutive first-round stoppages against Gamrot, Beneil Dariush, and Nasrat Haqparast among his recent achievements.
The Australian has earned performance bonuses in five of his six UFC appearances, and another statement win could move him closer to the lightweight title picture.
Saint-Denis Looks to Bounce Back
The Frenchman is coming off a brutal loss to Paddy Pimblett at UFC 329, where he was submitted in just 52 seconds. He will now look to bounce back and remind everyone why he remains one of the most dangerous finishers in the division.
Saint-Denis boasts a 17-4 professional record, with all his victories coming by knockout or submission. Before running into Pimblett, "The God of War" was also on a four-fight finishing streak, having stopped Kyle Prepolec, Mauricio Ruffy, Beneil Dariush, and Dan Hooker by the second round.
Salkilld Gets His Wish
Salkilld had recently expressed interest in fighting either Pimblett or Saint-Denis on social media. Following his win at UFC Vegas 120, he even called out the Frenchman for a potential showdown at Madison Square Garden. Instead, he will get his wish against Saint-Denis in front of his home crowd in Sydney.
UFC Returns to Sydney
The event will also mark the UFC's return to Sydney for the first time since November 2017, when Fabricio Werdum defeated Marcin Tybura at UFC Fight Night 121.
The UFC's three most recent visits to the region featured numbered events, including UFC 312, UFC 325, and UFC 284. With Salkilld and Saint-Denis now set to headline the upcoming card, the promotion has already secured an exciting clash between two lightweights known for their finishing ability.
As of writing, no other fights have been announced for UFC Sydney. More matchups are expected to take shape as the event approaches.
