The Australian lightweight prospect Quillan Salkilld made a press release to the whole 155-pound division on Saturday night, dispatching fellow countryman Jamie Mullarkey with a devastating first-round submission at UFC 325 contained in the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. The dominant performance not only extends Salkilld’s perfect 3-0 UFC record but additionally solidifies his position as one of the crucial dangerous emerging talents the promotion has to supply.
Salkilld wasted no time implementing his game plan, opening the bout with precise striking combos while maintaining the superior distance management that has grow to be his trademark contained in the Octagon. After establishing control through his varied striking arsenal, the 26-year-old shifted gears seamlessly to the canvas, where he applied a suffocating neck crank that left Mullarkey with no alternative but to submit. The clinical finish underscored what many already suspected—Salkilld just isn’t merely a knockout artist, but a well-rounded mixed martial artist able to ending opponents by any means essential.
🇦🇺 Quillan Salkilld with the Round 1 submission victory over Jamie Mullarkey 😤
— PROLINE BC (@ProlineBC) February 1, 2026
What makes this performance particularly impressive is the style through which Salkilld executed his game plan. While much of the fanfare surrounding his meteoric rise has centered on his spectacular knockout victories—including the viral head-kick KO against Nasrat Haqparast in October that earned him 2025’s CBS Sports KO of the 12 months honors—his submission victory against Mullarkey reveals the true depth of his technical arsenal. Prior to joining the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series, Salkilld was actually thought to be more of a grappling threat than a striker, and this performance proved he hasn’t abandoned those foundational skills.
Mullarkey, a seasoned 12-time UFC veteran, posed an experienced test for the rising star, but the competition highlighted the generational gap between a seasoned but aging competitor and a hungry prospect entering his prime. At 26 years old, Salkilld now sits at a powerful 10-1 skilled record with 4 of his ten victories coming via knockout or TKO, and three by submission.
His efficiency contained in the Octagon has been nothing wanting remarkable, with 4 of his total victories occurring within the opening round alone. As Salkilld continues his ascent up the lightweight rankings, questions inevitably surface about what’s next for the Perth native. Ranked prospects and potential top-15 contenders are surely circling his name, recognizing the real threat he presents to their position within the division.
Along with his combination of explosiveness, technical striking, grappling acumen, and killer instinct, Salkilld has all of the tools to grow to be a legitimate title contender inside the subsequent 12-18 months. For now, his unbeaten UFC record stays intact, and the division should take notice.