Quillan Salkilld's UFC 325 Opponent Changed: A New Challenge Awaits
January 10, 2026
The UFC 325 event, set to take place in Sydney, Australia, on January 31, 2026, has undergone a slight adjustment to its lineup. One of the most anticipated fights of the night, featuring rising star Quillan Salkilld, has a new opponent after the original faced an injury withdrawal.
Salkilld, a highly-rated lightweight fighter, was initially set to face Zhu Rong. However, due to an injury, Rong had to withdraw, and the promotion quickly found a replacement in fellow Australian, Jamie Mullarkey. This change adds an intriguing dynamic to the card, as Salkilld, with his impressive 10-1 MMA record, is set to face a seasoned opponent in Mullarkey.
Salkilld's 2025 was a breakthrough year, marked by a stunning 61-second knockout of Anshul Jubli and a unanimous decision victory over Yanal Ashmouz. His October performance, a violent head kick knockout of Nasrat Haqparast, further solidified his place in the lightweight division. With his home crowd cheering him on, Salkilld is poised to continue his winning streak.
Mullarkey, with a 18-8 MMA record, is no stranger to the spoiler role. He aims to disrupt Salkilld's momentum, a challenge he has successfully undertaken in the past. This fight promises an exciting clash of styles and strategies, adding to the excitement of UFC 325.
The event's full lineup now includes:
- Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes
- Dan Hooker vs. Benoit Saint-Denis
- Rafael Fiziev vs. Mauricio Ruffy
- Tai Tuivasa vs. Tallison Teixeira
- Jimmy Crute vs. Dustin Jacoby
- Jamie Mullarkey vs. Quillan Salkilld
- Cody Brundage vs. Cam Rowston
- Torrez Finney vs. Jacob Malkoun
- Oban Elliott vs. Jonathan Micallef
- Kaan Ofli vs. Yizha
- Billy Elekana vs. Junior Tafa
- Dom Mar Fan vs. Sang Uk Kim
- Keiichiro Nakamura vs. Sebastian Szalay
- Lawrence Lui vs. Sulangrangbo
- Namsrai Batbayar vs. Aaron Tau
With these additions, UFC 325 is shaping up to be a thrilling night of fights, and the change in Salkilld's opponent only adds to the excitement. Will Salkilld continue his dominant run, or will Mullarkey pull off a surprise? The answers will be revealed on January 31, 2026.
