Quillan Salkilld discusses his quick rise following UFC 325 triumph

UFC star Quillan Salkilld has reflected on his rise through the ranks following his big win at UFC 325 over Jamie Mullarkey.

Over the course of his last few fights, Quillan Salkilld has been on a really impressive run in the lightweight division. He has emerged as one of the most intriguing prospects at 155 pounds and while there’s still work to be done before he can think about reaching the very top, his progress has been notable.

RELATED: UFC 321 Bonus Report: Quillan Salkilld one of four fighters to take home $50k

This past weekend, Salkilld went head to head with Jamie Mullarkey. He went into it as the favorite, and he certainly lived up to the billing, putting forward the kind of performance that fans have come to expect. Now, it’s all about taking advantage of what he’s been building and hitting that next level.

In an interview after the fight, Salkilld had the following to say about his future.

Salkilld on his rise through the ranks in the UFC

“Faster than what I thought, but I’m all for it,” Salkilld told MMA Crazy and other reporters at the UFC 325 post-fight press conference. “I’m in this game to progress as fast and as quickly as possible, and it’s quite the special moment that I got to debut last year on the same card, first fight, and now I got to debut on a main card spot this year. We’re going to keep on heading up.”

“I want to dive in headfirst into the deep end and see how it goes,” Salkilld said. “I want a top-15 opponent or someone right there on the tip of the rankings.

“100 percent,” Salkilld said. “We’re keeping all the momentum going. Another couple of fights this year. Full steam ahead, and let’s see where that takes us.”

Quotes via MMA Junkie

What’s next for this young star? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, BJPENN Nation!