Champion: Quillan Salkilld

Former Eternal Lightweight Champion — Quillan Salkilld

In just under a year inside the UFC, Quillan Salkilld has earned two awards, two knockouts, and the respect of fight fans around the globe, an incredible rise from Australia’s regional circuit to the world’s biggest stage.

Fresh off a Knockout of the Year contender at UFC 321, Quillan has shaken up the MMA world, taking another massive step toward defining his legacy.

His journey began humbly, debuting with a loss in 2021. But true to his grit, Quillan bounced back immediately with a first-round rear-naked choke, the start of an undefeated streak that would lead him to championship gold.

Three straight finishes later, a mix of submissions and knockouts, proved his versatility and power. On June 10, 2023, in front of his hometown crowd in Perth, Australia, Quillan delivered a spectacular 42-second knockout over Blake Donnelly to capture the Eternal Lightweight Title.

His first title defence came in October that same year, where he showcased his endurance and fight IQ across five dominant rounds, nullifying American challenger Brett Pastore at every turn. Quillan followed it up with another emphatic defence submitting Dom Mar Fan via rear-naked choke in Round 2 of their rematch.

With six straight victories (five by finish) Quillan earned his shot on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2024. He rose to the occasion winning the fight decisively and securing a UFC contract. Dana White personally stepped into the Octagon to shake his hand, sealing the deal with a nod of approval.

That moment set the stage for his UFC debut at UFC 312 in 2025, where he announced himself to the world with a 19-second knockout, earning Performance of the Night honours. He followed it up in June with a dominant unanimous decision win, solidifying his place as one of Australia’s most exciting prospects.

Then came UFC 321 a short-notice fight on ten days’ notice against Nasrat Haqparast. Flying across the world, Quillan once again defied the odds, delivering a highlight-reel knockout that reminded the world exactly what made him an Eternal champion and why his story is only just beginning.

Career Snapshot
Former Eternal Flyweight Champion (2015–2017)
2 Title Defences
9 Eternal Appearances

Quillan Salkilld Locked In For DWCS

OFFICIAL! Eternal MMA Lightweight Champion Quillan Salkilld (6-1) is locked in for Dana White’s Contender Series.

Following in the footsteps of previous Eternal champions, Perth’s Salkilld will be entering the Octagon with a six-fight win streak and two championship defenses to his name.

Salkilld’s MMA career started in 2018 at Eternal 37, and he ended his amateur apprenticeship in 2020 at Eternal 53 with a record of 8-3. Salkilld made his professional debut in 2021 at Eternal 56, where he eventually created a string of dominant fights, positioning himself as the number one lightweight in Australia, solidified by his ownership of the Eternal lightweight belt.

Already on the radar with an opportunity on the Road to UFC that didn’t eventuate in late 2023, Quillan Salkilld continued his reign in Australia with two more dominating championship bouts. We’re excited to see what Quillan has to offer in the next chapter of his career, and rest assured, the world will be watching the rise of this future MMA superstar.

Keep an eye out for future announcements regarding Quillan Salkilld’s DWCS fight and more.

Know Your Fighter: Quillan Salkilld

Full Name:

Quillan Salkilld

Age:

23

Where were you born:

Perth

Where do you live:

Perth

Which gym do you train out of:

Luistro combat academy

Who are your coaches:

Romel luistro (head coach) Tom Barns (wrestling) Toby smith (Muay Thai)

What belts or rankings do you currently posses as a martial artist:

Brown belt jiu Jitsu

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up:

Australian rules football Skateboarding

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession:

Started training in March 2018 and I knew I wanted to make it my career after my first amateur win in November 2018.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why:

Tuesday wrestling practice is my favourite session of the week.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter:

The ability to learn and apply new skills consistently.

How would you describe your fighting style:

Gangsta

What is your favourite sport and why:

Other than mma I’d say AFL The game is so dynamic it is very entertaining to watch and fun to play.

Who is your favourite athlete:

Magnus Carlson

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete:

Mike Tyson

What are your immediate and long term goals:

To get to the ufc and become their lightweight champion

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect:

An exciting fight that won’t go the distance

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out:

I’ll get the finish inside 2 rounds.

A final message to any friends, family and supporters:

Thank you to all my Family and friends for all the support over last 5 years. I’ve been blessed to have you all along for the journey so far. Let’s keep it going.

Where will any fans or supporters be able to find you socials:

Instagram – @quillansalkilld

Know Your Fighter: Quillan Salkilld

Eternal MMA sits down with lightweight challenger Quillan Salkilld for a Q&A ahead of his championship fight against Blake Donnelly at Eternal 76.

Age:

23

Where were you born:

I was born in Perth. I spent my most of my childhood in Broome.

Where are you based now:

I am now based in Perth.

Which gym to you train out of:

I train at Luistro Combat Academy.

Who are your coaches:

My main coach in Romel Luistro.

What belts or rankings do you currently possess as a martial artist:

I have received my brown-belt in jiu-jitsu.

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up:

When I was growing up, I got in to skating a lot. That was one of my first dreams – I wanted to be a professional skater. I also got into Aussie Rules footy as well, that was my second dream before MMA – I wanted to be an AFL player.

When did you first decide to dedicate yourself to the sport of MMA:

I first went all in on the sport when I got my first win. After I got my first win, that’s when I decided that this is what I want to do full-time, I want to keep chasing that feeling.

Favourite aspect of training:

Seeing myself and my team build. We have been working together for years, seeing everyone steadily improve, seeing where we have come from and where we are at now – we see the trajectory of where we are going to go.

What do you consider to be your greatest strengths as a mixed martial artist:

My greatest strength is my ability to absorb information. My ability to learn anything and get better.

Can you compare your fighting style to any high level mixed martial artist:

I’m not sure, but I’d like to be like Zabit Magomedsharipov. He’s such a complete fighter and he has a really cool style. He’s someone who I guess I aim to be like.

Who would you consider to be some of your favourite combat sports athletes:

Nothing really comes to mind as a “favourite”. I like a lot of people. Guys like Zabit and Conor McGregor – one of the guys who got me in to training. Before I even started training, I was hearing about him and kind of became a fan beforehand.

Which fight do you consider to be your standout performance so far:

I’d say my last fight in February of this year. I found my mindset and everything going into that fight was bulletproof. I felt invincible in there. I think I really showcased my skills that night.

What are your goals for both the immediate and long-term future:

Immediate goal is to win the Eternal lightweight belt. My long-term goal is to win the UFC lightweight belt.

What can fans expect to see from you when you step foot inside the cage:

They can expect to see a complete martial artist. They’re not going to find any holes in my game, they’re going to find out that I’m good at everything.

How do you see yourself getting your hand raised at Eternal 76:

The perfect way would just be a finish inside of five-rounds.

A final message to your fans and supporters.

I just want to say thankyou to everyone. Especially my close friends, family, teammates, coaches – everyone that’s been looking out for me for the last four or five years. I just want to say thankyou and one day I will pay it back.