While it’s not Madison Square Garden, Quillan Salkilld still has the opportunity to defend his ranking as he faces lightweight contender Benoit Saint Denis, known as the “God of War,” in the main event at UFC Sydney on February 6 in Australia. Salkilld, with only one loss in his career, is on a 13-fight winning streak highlighted by his submission win over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Vegas 120 last August. Thirty-year-old Saint Denis, four years Salkilld’s senior, aims to bounce back after suffering a submission defeat to Paddy Pimblett at UFC 329 last July.
According to BetOnline.ag, Salkilld is the favorite at -260, while Saint Denis is the underdog at +216. Former UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier shared his thoughts with Deep Waters, saying, “I kind of think Salkilld is going to win. Nice guy, but I fought [Saint Denis], so I felt the skill level and I just think there’s more dangerous guys out there. It’s a tough fight. [Saint Denis] is kind of a brute in there. He’ll throw himself in and just crash. It’s a test for both guys.”
In addition to the headline bout, UFC Sydney’s co-main event features a light heavyweight showdown between Robert Whittaker and Bogdan Guskov.
Fan Take: This matchup is a crucial moment for both fighters to solidify their standing in the lightweight division, with Salkilld aiming to confirm his rise and Saint Denis looking to prove his resilience. Fans should watch closely, as this fight could shape the division’s future and showcase the evolving skill and toughness that define modern MMA.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
