Quillan Salkilld revealed that fans were seriously upset with him for defeating Jamie Mullarkey via 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 stated he had to apologize to fans because they only knew about his knockout power and didn't know he could grapple. Salkilld acknowledged that fans saw his knockouts and assumed he was purely a striker, not realizing his submission skills. Looking ahead, he says he doesn't know exactly how he'll win his next fight but will try to land headshots while remaining open to any finish. The fighter expressed amusement at fans' reactions to discovering his well-rounded skill set.
Quillan Salkilld has opened up about the unexpected backlash he received from fans after submitting fellow Australian Jamie Mullarkey, with supporters apparently furious that the finish did not come by knockout.
Salkilld, 26, holds a 12-1 record in the lightweight division and currently sits ranked fifteenth in the UFC. The Australian out of Luistro Combat Academy has built his reputation largely on striking, and the numbers back that up — he lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a 57 percent accuracy rate, figures that place him among the sharper hands in the division. What fans may have overlooked, however, is that he also averages 7.95 takedowns per 15 minutes, a remarkable volume that signals serious grappling credentials alongside his punching power.
Mullarkey, 31, carries an 18-9 record and is no stranger to entertaining fights. The Sydney-based lightweight lands 4.10 significant strikes per minute and brings his own offensive output, but his submission attempt rate of just 0.10 per 15 minutes underlines why finishing him on the ground caught observers off guard.
Salkilld acknowledged that fans who only knew him through highlight-reel knockouts simply had no frame of reference for his submission ability, and he admitted he even felt compelled to apologize to those who had expected a different kind of finish. He expressed genuine amusement at the situation, noting that people underestimate how hard it is to stop anyone at the UFC level regardless of method.
Why it matters
- Salkilld's well-rounded skill set makes him a more dangerous proposition at lightweight than his knockout reputation alone suggests
- The win over Mullarkey, a durable and experienced opponent, carries real weight as Salkilld pushes further into the top fifteen
- Looking ahead, Salkilld says he plans to target headshots but remains open to finishing a fight by whatever method presents itself
