Salkilld says knee may have been injured during UFC Vegas 120 win over Gamrot
Australian lightweight Quillan Salkilld reported feeling a pop in his knee during a wrestling exchange in his first-round victory over Mateusz Gamrot and will seek medical evaluation before planning his next fight.
Australian lightweight Quillan Salkilld claimed he may have sustained a knee injury during a wrestling exchange in his first-round victory over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Vegas 120. The Australian said the exchange forced his ankle into a 90-degree position, after which he heard a "little pop" and felt soreness in the joint.
"There was a wrestling exchange at the start where he grabbed my ankle… I turned into it and forced it… I heard a little pop. Even when I had that rear-naked choke, I actually felt it," Salkilld told the post-show interview.
Despite the discomfort, Salkilld completed a takedown and secured a rear-naked choke to finish the fight in the first round, a result that is expected to move him into the lightweight top-10 rankings. He said his immediate priority is to have the knee examined by a doctor, adding that he does not anticipate a serious problem.
"I have a little bit of a twinge in the knee right now… I don’t think it’s too bad, but that’s the next thing on my mind to be honest," he said.
Salkilld expressed confidence he will recover quickly and aims to return to competition before the end of the year, mentioning a preferred venue of Madison Square Garden for a future bout. He also noted that many top lightweight contenders are already booked, which could affect his next opponent selection.
"I’m like Wolverine, no matter what the injury is, I’m going to recover quick," he added.