Salkilld chokes out Gamrot to crash lightweight

UFC Vegas 120 belonged to Quillan Salkilld, who shrugged off Mateusz Gamrot's grappling and submitted the No. 6 lightweight in the first round to announce himself as a genuine contender. The night also closed the book on Darren Elkins, brutally retired in 35 seconds. Elsewhere, Dana White explained the reshuffle atop UFC 331's lightweight eliminator, and ONE ran back a Tokyo rivalry.

Salkilld submits Gamrot in first UFC main event, arrives at 155

In the UFC Vegas 120 headliner, No. 9 Quillan Salkilld out-grappled No. 6 Mateusz Gamrot and forced a rear-naked choke tap at 4:25 of Round 1. The 26-year-old Australian is now 6-0 in the UFC and 13-1 as a pro, with finishes in five of his six Octagon wins, and holds notable wins over Gamrot, Beneil Dariush and Nasrat Haqparast. It was only the second submission loss of Gamrot's career; Salkilld took a Performance of the Night bonus and pros from Belal Muhammad to Henry Cejudo called for a top-five opponent.

Why it matters: A grappling specialist getting choked out by a striker with a bright ceiling reorders the 155-pound contender picture and hands the division a new name to watch.

Del Valle knocks out Elkins in 35 seconds to end his career

Yadier del Valle spoiled Darren Elkins' farewell at UFC Vegas 120, dropping the 42-year-old with a left hand and forcing a stoppage just 35 seconds into the first round. Elkins had vowed to retire win or lose, and did, walking away 29-13 with the second-most wins and most bouts in UFC featherweight history. Del Valle, 24, rebounds from his first pro loss and moves to 11-1.

Why it matters: One of the division's most durable gatekeepers is gone, and del Valle's power keeps him on the featherweight prospect track — though the one-sided sendoff told us little about his ceiling.

White: Oliveira pulled from Tsarukyan eliminator after teammate's death

Dana White confirmed that Mauricio Ruffy was not the planned opponent for Arman Tsarukyan in the UFC 331 co-main event, saying Tsarukyan's original fight 'fell out.' That fight was a Charles Oliveira rematch; Oliveira is reported to have withdrawn following the August 3 death of his teammate, flyweight Allan Nascimento, who died of an apparent heart attack. Ruffy (14-2), fresh off wins over Michael Chandler and Rafael Fiziev, steps in for the September 19 title eliminator in Los Angeles.

Why it matters: It explains a surprise reshuffle at the top of the lightweight queue and puts a hot-streaking striker one win away from a Gaethje title shot instead of a proven former champ.

Noiri avenges Liu with first-round KO, advances in ONE tournament

Masaaki Noiri closed ONE Samurai 2 in Tokyo by flattening Liu Mengyang with a left hook seconds before the first-round bell, avenging a 2024 decision loss and earning a reported six-figure bonus. The win advances the former interim champ to the ONE Samurai featherweight kickboxing tournament semifinals against Mohammad Siasarani, who head-kicked Kaito Ono out in 87 seconds. The bracket winner earns a shot at Superbon's world title.

Why it matters: The tournament is Noiri's path back to a Superbon rematch, and a career-best performance — praised by CEO Chatri Sityodtong — makes the hometown star a real threat to win it.

Bella Mir draws Alex Apodaca for DWCS headliner

Bella Mir, the 23-year-old daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, will headline the August 25 Dana White's Contender Series card against Alex Apodaca in a women's bantamweight bout. It is Mir's fifth pro fight and her first MMA outing in over a year; she is 4-0 with three finishes. Apodaca enters on a three-fight win streak.

Why it matters: A high-profile prospect gets her audition for the UFC in a thin bantamweight division that badly needs new contenders.

Ferreira wins co-main war, Thainara outpoints Lemos on Vegas 120 undercard

Diego Ferreira edged Billy Quarantillo by unanimous decision in a back-and-forth lightweight scrap that earned Fight of the Night. In another key result, unbeaten prospect Alexia Thainara (4-0 UFC) survived a second-round scare to outpoint former title challenger Amanda Lemos and stay perfect at strawweight, while welterweight prospect Ty Cole Miller (2-0 UFC) took a Performance bonus for a third-round TKO of Billy Goff.

Why it matters: Thainara's win over a ranked veteran pushes her toward the strawweight top 10, and Miller looks like a 170-pound name to track.

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