Salkilld On Why He Called Out Gamrot

Quillan Salkilld has been eyeing Mateusz Gamrot since his early pro days.

The New Zealand lightweight faces the Polish veteran in Saturday's UFC Vegas 120 main event after calling him out following his last fight. Salkilld enters as a -154 favorite on FanDuel, according to BJ Penn, but said he specifically targeted Gamrot because of the difficulty the matchup presents.

Salkilld Wanted The Toughest Test Available

"I've been wanting to fight him for a long time, for ages," Salkilld said at UFC Vegas 120 media day, per BJ Penn. "He's someone who's respected, and he's always someone I've envisioned fighting, ever since I was coming up through the pro ranks."

Salkilld said the timing aligned after other lightweights got matched up and Gamrot was coming off a recent win. He dismissed the idea of choosing easier paths to contention, explaining he wanted an opponent who would earn him credibility. Gamrot's wrestling credentials present a real threat, but that's exactly why Salkilld pursued the bout.

The Kiwi brings a 12-1 record into Saturday, riding a 12-fight win streak since losing his pro debut. He stopped Beneil Dariush in the first round last time out and is 5-0 inside the Octagon. Gamrot's resume means a win would carry significant weight at 155 pounds.

Saturday's main event goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Quillan Salkilld explains why he wanted to fight Mateusz Gamrot: ‘I’ve been wanting to fight him for a long time’