Quillan Salkilld: From Uncertainty to UFC Pay-Per-View Opportunity

Less than a week ago, Quillan Salkilld didn’t even know if he’d be fighting again in 2025. Now, he’s stepping in on just ten days’ notice as the featured prelim on yet another UFC pay-per-view. It’s the kind of opportunity few would risk, but Salkilld and his team didn’t hesitate when the call came.

“Hell Yeah, Let’s Do It” — The Call That Changed Everything

“I woke up Wednesday morning to a phone call from my manager,” Salkilld said. “I actually declined it at first because I was still tired. Five minutes later she called again, so I thought it must be important. I woke up, answered, and she told me the news. First thing I did was rush to the bathroom, check my weight to make sure it was possible, and then we made the decision, hell yeah, let’s do it. I haven’t looked back. I’m super pumped. Another pay-per-view, that’s three in a row now. I love these big events, it’s going to be fun.”

Loyalty and Teamwork at Luistro Combat Academy

The turnaround was tight, but the team managed to pull it off with the kind of chemistry that’s becoming a hallmark of Luistro Combat Academy — loyalty runs deep at LCA. Whether he’s wrapping hands, holding pads, or helping teammates get ready for their own bouts, Salkilld’s known for putting others first.

“Oh, it’s great,” he said. “I’m very fortunate to have a solid crew that’s willing to, on a moment’s notice, jump on a plane, fly across the world, and drop everything to help out. I’m really lucky to have that kind of support, and I appreciate them a hell of a lot.”

From Missed Perth Card to Pay-Per-View Redemption

After missing the Perth card earlier this year, Salkilld was desperate to get one more fight in before 2025 wrapped up. The thought of waiting until Sydney was starting to creep in — until the phone rang.

“It did start to play on my mind,” he admitted. “The funny thing is, the night before I found out, I actually had a dream that my manager called me and said there was no fight this year, that there was no room. In the dream I was angry, breaking down, crying, then I literally woke up to the sound of my phone going off, and it was her calling to say I was fighting. I found that super weird. But yeah, before that I was training as if something was coming up, always optimistic.”

Three Straight Pay-Per-Views and Counting

Since making his debut, every UFC appearance for Salkilld has come under the lights of a pay-per-view — a streak he’s proud to keep alive.

“Headlining a Fight Night would be cool, but the pay-per-view is definitely cooler,” he said with a grin.

“Yeah, 100 percent, for sure. I think I’ve earned a spot on the main card of a pay-per-view.”

Overcoming Setbacks — Losing His Instagram Account

Earlier this year, Salkilld lost his original Instagram account, a blow for any fighter in today’s social-media-driven landscape. While he can joke about it now, it was still a frustrating setback.

“Oh shit, that’s a tough question,” he said when asked if he’d rather get his old account back or win this weekend. “No, definitely the win. I could do without the old Instagram. It’s alright, I’ll build this one up.”

But the frustration wasn’t just about losing followers.

“It was losing all the old posts,” he said. “I’d had that account since I was like 12. All the memories going back, the start of the UFC career, the professional career, it was cool to look back on. Other than that, I don’t mind too much about building it back up again.”

Reflecting on a Wild First Year in the UFC

It’s been a whirlwind eight months since his UFC debut, but Salkilld hasn’t had much time to step back and reflect — and he prefers it that way.

“Honestly, I don’t even know,” he laughed when asked what he’s learned. “I haven’t really taken a step back to think about it, I’ve just enjoyed the whole process. It’s been a fun, eventful year doing the same thing I’ve always done, except now it’s on a bigger stage and I get to fly across the world. Other than that, it’s the exact same thing I’ve been doing for the last eight years of my life.”

Facing Nasrat Haqparast — The Most Experienced Opponent Yet

This weekend, Salkilld faces his most experienced opponent yet in Nasrat Haqparast, a fighter who made his UFC debut before Quillan had even started training MMA. But for the Perth lightweight, that experience gap doesn’t faze him.

“Definitely my well-roundedness,” he said. “I’ve got more tools to utilise. Nasrat’s got good hands and good boxing, he’s fast, but other than that he doesn’t use a whole lot more offensively. My ability to mix it up in all aspects of MMA is going to be my advantage in this fight.”

Final Message to Aussie Fans

With the fight set for the early hours back in Australia, Salkilld has one final message for those still deciding whether to tune in live.

“Stay up all night and get maggot, then watch me,” he laughed. “I’ll be on after midnight Perth time, so if you’re on the east coast, just stay up, get on it, and enjoy the fight.”

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