The UFC was back at the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday for UFC Vegas 120. In the main event, Quillan Salkilld took on Mateusz Gamrot in a fan-friendly lightweight scrap.
Salkilld was set for his first UFC main event and was coming off a first-round TKO over Beneil Dariush. Gamrot, meanwhile, was coming off a submission win over Esteban Ribovics to return to the win column.
Ultimately, it was Salkilld who got his hand raised with a submission win in the first round over Gamrot, cementing himself as a true lightweight contender. Following UFC Vegas 120, here is what I think should be next for the lightweight contenders.
Quillan Salkilld
Quillan Salkilld was looking to prove he’s a legit lightweight contender and made a statement with a first-round submission win over Mateusz Gamrot. Salkilld looked good on the feet and in the grappling exchanges as he appears to be the complete package.
With the win, Salkilld is now a legit title contender and could get a top-five opponent next. A logical next fight is to face Benoit Saint Denis, who’s ranked sixth and is coming off a quick loss to Paddy Pimblett. It could headline a Fight Night card later this year in what would be a fan-friendly bout for however long it lasts. If Salkilld can beat Saint Denis, he would likely be a win away from a title shot.
Mateusz Gamrot
Mateusz Gamrot entered UFC Vegas 120 with a chance to cement himself as a title contender and derail the hype of Salkilld. Yet, he struggled against Salkilld and got caught by a submission, which forced him to tap in the first round.
With the loss, Gamrot appears to be more of a gatekeeper for the top 10 than a true title contender. He will likely need to fight someone below him in the rankings again. A logical next bout is to face Tom Nolan, who’s 5-1 in the UFC and has looked impressive since his upset UFC debut loss. Nolan is ranked below him, and it gives him a chance to enter the top-10, while for Gamrot, he needs to win to prove he’s a top-10 guy.
What do you think should be next for Quillan Salkilld and Mateusz Gamrot after UFC Vegas 120?
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
