Salkeld runs win streak to 13 with first-round finish of Gamrot

Quillan Salkeld (left) fends off a heel hook attempt by Mateusz Gamrot. [UFC]

Quillan Salkeld (26, Australia) extended his winning streak to 13 with a first-round finish of veteran Mateusz Gamrot (35, Poland).

Ranked 12th in the UFC lightweight division (70.3 kg), Salkeld submitted eighth-ranked Gamrot with a rear-naked choke at 4 minutes 25 seconds of the first round in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Salkeld at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday. The victory gave Salkeld his fourth consecutive first-round finish and his 13th straight win since a loss in his professional debut.

Gamrot has trained in wrestling since childhood and is a former Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Submission Grappling European champion. Salkeld neutralized his takedown attempts and leg-lock attacks before taking the fight to the ground himself and forcing the tap.

Salkeld landed a sharp jab that rocked Gamrot as he tried to close the distance. Gamrot immediately shot for a takedown to survive, but Salkeld calmly defended. Salkeld then secured a surprise takedown of his own, took the back on the ground and locked in the rear-naked choke to finish the fight.

"I feel amazing," Salkeld said in his post-fight interview. "I've proved now that I'm the real deal." On beating Gamrot in grappling — his opponent's own domain — Salkeld said, "I want to take them where they think they're safe. I want to use every weapon I have, and I knew I could finish it whether it was in the first minute or the last minute."

"I've broken into the top 10, so now I deserve a spot to get into the top five," he said. "I want at least a top-five opponent, or someone right around there."

Tai Miller (left) unleashes a punch combination on Billy Ray Goff. [Getty Images]

In the third bout on the main card, Darren Elkins (42, United States) announced his retirement after a 19-year MMA career. Elkins was stopped by a left hook from prospect Yadier del Valle (30, Cuba) at 35 seconds of their featherweight (65.8 kg) bout.

After retiring, Elkins said he plans to return to his work as a plumber — a job he kept up even during his fighting career — while also coaching his son, who aspires to become an MMA fighter.

In the main card opener, Korean American welterweight (77.1 kg) fighter "Thriller" Tai Miller (26, United States) picked up his second consecutive UFC win. Miller defeated Billy Ray Goff (28, United States) with a right straight followed by a flurry of punches just after the start of the third round. He earned a Performance of the Night bonus of 14.13 million won ($9,950), improving his professional record to 8 wins and 1 no-contest.

Miller is a quarter Korean on his grandmother's side — she is originally from Busan — and has said he regularly eats kimchi and steamed white rice.

yjc@heraldcorp.com