Quillan Salkilld revealed that fans were genuinely upset with him for finishing Jamie Mullarkey by submission when they expected a knockout. Salkilld explained that people don't realize how difficult it is to finish opponents at the UFC level. He noted that fans saw his knockout highlights and assumed he was purely a striker, not understanding his grappling skills. Salkilld humorously mentioned he had to apologize for submitting his opponent. Looking ahead to his next fight, he stated he'll try to land a clean punch to the head but will take the win however it comes.
Quillan Salkilld has opened up about an unusual backlash he faced after finishing Jamie Mullarkey by submission, with fans reportedly upset that the fight did not end by knockout.
Salkilld, 26, holds a 12-1 record and sits at number 15 in the UFC lightweight division. The Australian out of Luistro Combat Academy stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach and has built a reputation as a dangerous striker, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 57 percent accuracy. What opponents and apparently some fans have overlooked is his grappling threat — he averages 7.95 takedown attempts per 15 minutes, a remarkably high number for a fighter so closely associated with his hands.
Mullarkey, also 31 years old and Australian, came in with an 18-9 record and a style built around forward pressure and volume striking, averaging 4.1 significant strikes per minute. He represents the kind of opponent fans expected Salkilld to put away standing up, given the knockout highlights that have defined Salkilld's public image.
According to Salkilld, those same fans were genuinely annoyed when the fight ended on the mat rather than on the feet. He acknowledged having to humorously apologize for the submission finish, while also pointing out that people underestimate how difficult it is to stop any opponent at the UFC level, regardless of how it is done. Salkilld noted that his grappling credentials are real, even if they have been overshadowed by his striking highlights.
Why it matters
- Salkilld is ranked 15th at lightweight, and finishing opponents by any method strengthens his position in a crowded division
- The finish exposed a grappling dimension to his game that opponents may now need to account for alongside his 57 percent striking accuracy
- Salkilld has signaled he will pursue the knockout in his next outing while remaining pragmatic about taking wins however they come
