Quillan Salkilld Wants Paddy Pimblett or Max Holloway Next After UFC Rise

Australian native Quillan Salkilld is one of the most successful fighters to emerge from Dana White’s Contender Series.

With a 13-1 professional record, the 26-year-old remains undefeated in the UFC. He has seven wins in the promotion, five of which have come via a finish. Now, he wants to face an opponent who can take him one step closer to lightweight gold.

Quillian Salkilld Reveals His Choice of Opponents

Quillian Salkilld is coming off a knockout win against Mateusz Gamrot in August. The 26-year-old has made a name for himself in a UFC division packed with elite killers.

And he is not afraid to call out the best. Salkilld shared a screenshot of a conversation where he was asked who he would like to face at the UFC Sydney event that is scheduled for February 2026.

Salkilld instantly replied, “Give me Paddy or Holloway.” The Australian has five Performance of the Night bonuses to his name, making him a prominent contender who could challenge for the title in the future. However, the UFC is yet to announce his next opponent.

Paddy Pimblett and Max Holloway’s Current Status in the UFC

Paddy Pimblett recently returned to the win column with a first-round finish over Benoit Saint Denis. He has an 8-1 record in the UFC and is now calling for a title shot.

However, champion Justin Gaethje has stated that he will face Arman Tsarukyan next in his first title defense. As a result, Pimblett is eyeing a fight against former champion Ilia Topuria.

Meanwhile, Max Holloway, who recently defeated Conor McGregor, has no fight booked at the moment. He is eyeing either a title shot or a trilogy bout against McGregor.

However, given the current scenario, Holloway doesn’t appear to be getting a title shot anytime soon. Thus, Salkilld could be an excellent opponent for him.

Both contenders are stylistically well-matched, and a win could further strengthen their positions in the title race.