Get ready for a thrilling UFC showdown that’s already sparking debates! Quillan Salkilld, one of 2025’s most explosive fighters, has just landed a new opponent for UFC 325, and it’s not who you’d expect. Announced on January 10, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET, the rising lightweight sensation will now face fellow Australian Jamie Mullarkey on January 31 at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, after original opponent Zhu Rong withdrew due to injury. But here’s where it gets controversial: is this matchup a stepping stone for Salkilld’s meteoric rise, or a calculated risk that could derail his momentum?
Salkilld (10-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) had a jaw-dropping debut year in the UFC, leaving fans in awe with his brutal 61-second knockout of Anshul Jubli, a unanimous decision win over Yanal Ashmouz, and a highlight-reel head kick KO of Nasrat Haqparast in October. His ability to finish fights in spectacular fashion has made him a fan favorite and a fighter to watch.
On the other side of the Octagon, Mullarkey (18-8 MMA, 6-6 UFC) is no pushover. Known for stepping up when others back down, he’s built a reputation as a spoiler, often thriving in underdog roles. And this is the part most people miss: Mullarkey’s unpredictability could make this fight far more competitive than it seems on paper. Will he pull off another upset, or will Salkilld’s momentum prove too much to handle?
The UFC 325 card is stacked with other high-profile matchups, including Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes, Dan Hooker vs. Benoit Saint-Denis, and Tai Tuivasa vs. Tallison Teixeira. But Salkilld vs. Mullarkey is the bout that’s already dividing opinions. Is Mullarkey the perfect test for Salkilld’s championship aspirations, or a dangerous wildcard that could shake up the lightweight division?
Here’s the full lineup for UFC 325:
- 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
What do you think? Is Salkilld’s new matchup a smart move, or a risky gamble? Let us know in the comments below!
