Salkild submits Gamrot in 2:33 with rear-naked choke

Quillan Salkilld pulled off a huge upset in Las Vegas on Saturday night, ending Mateusz Gamrot’s unbeaten run with a brutal rear-naked choke in the first round of the UFC Vegas 120 main event. The 24-year-old American, fighting for only the fifth time in the UFC, submitted the former lightweight contender in just 2 minutes and 33 seconds. It’s the fastest finish of Salkilld’s professional career and his fourth straight win inside the Octagon.

Gamrot, 33, had won seven fights in a row before stepping in against Salkilld, including a split decision over Rafael Fiziev last year. Known for his slick grappling and relentless pace, the Polish fighter was the betting favorite. But Salkilld, a 21-4 striker with a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, took him down early, locked in the choke from the back, and forced the tap despite Gamrot’s scrambling. The finish didn’t just shock the crowd—it reshuffled the lightweight division rankings almost overnight.

Salkilld’s next fight is already on the horizon. UFC officials confirmed he’s penciled in for a high-profile bout against Benoît Saint-Denis in early 2025. A win there could vault him into the top five, while Gamrot will need a quick bounce-back to salvage his title hopes. The loss marks the first time Gamrot has been finished in his last 12 pro fights and ends his seven-year streak of never being submitted.

For Salkilld, the victory proves he’s more than just a grappling specialist. He’s now 12-4 in the UFC and has finished four of his last five opponents. The win also cements UFC’s push to build young American talent, especially after a string of recent losses by top contenders. The division’s future just got a lot more interesting, and Salkilld’s name is suddenly on every shortlist.