The scenes at UFC 321 were concerning after Quillan Salkilld knocked out Nasrat Haqparast with a vicious head kick. Haqparast was out for an extended period of time, and the arena went from cheers to silence in a moment of concern. The Australian himself was caught on camera saying, “Come on, get up,” with a worried face. The Afghan star was able to get back to his feet, and Sakilld went back to relishing his KO win. But he picked up an unfortunate injury of his own, which the adrenaline of the moment had him oblivious to.

Even with UFC 321 now wrapped up, his thunderous knockout remains a major talking point, with many calling it an early frontrunner for “Head Kick of the Year.” Still, the victory came at a price — a detail Salkilld revealed in his post-fight interview.

Quillan Salkilld gives an update on injury after brutal head-kick win at UFC 321

Since earning his UFC contract through DWCS 8.4, Quillan Salkilld has quickly become one of the lightweight division’s most talked-about prospects. The Australian standout has dispatched opponents from Israel, India, and Afghanistan, carving out a reputation as a ruthless finisher with a calm, no-nonsense approach. Now on the verge of breaking into the top 15, Salkilld’s momentum will have to pause briefly after suffering a broken foot while landing his viral head kick at UFC 321.

During the post-fight press conference, a reporter pointed out, “We see the boot on the foot. So, uh, any idea what happened in there?” Salkilld coolly replied, “Take a guess.” The reporter followed up, “So, was it from the kick?” to which Quillan Salkilld confirmed, “Yeah, on impact. As soon as I, you know, finished celebrating and things calmed down, I felt it. It doesn’t feel too great right now, but, you know, worth it.”

When asked about his opponent Nasrat Haqparast’s condition after the knockout, Quillan Salkilld admitted the aftermath was unsettling. Calling it “a bit scary,” he recalled the tense moments as Haqparast remained motionless. “I was getting a bit worried, as you do. But, you know, I understand it’s part of the game. It could easily be me in that situation as well. This is what we sign up for as fighters — on public display, showing both our best moments and our worst moments. So, yeah, I wish it didn’t go that way,” he said.

Quillan Salkilld is 3-0 in the UFC now, solidifying his reputation as one of the most exciting prospects in the lightweight division. The Australian standout showcased not only his composure under pressure but also his finishing instincts on the big stage, despite stepping in on just ten days’ notice. The Australian prospect felt it was time for a reward, calling for a top-15 opponent next and requesting that his next fight take place on home soil.

Salkilld eyes return on upcoming UFC Australia card

Before joining the UFC, Quillan Salkilld carved out an impressive path on the regional circuit, where his dominant performances quickly turned heads. Despite suffering just one early loss, the 25-year-old rebounded in style, racking up a 10-fight winning streak — most of them by knockout. Now with momentum on his side, Salkilld is eager to bring his explosive style back home and perform in front of an Australian crowd.

No longer satisfied with life on the prelims, the unranked contender has his sights set on opening the next UFC Australia main card. When asked about his ambitions, a media member posed the question, “Are you hoping to get on this rumored Sydney card that’s coming up next year?” Quillan Salkilld replied, “Ideally, yeah. I’d like to be the main card opener on the next card in Oz. I’ve heard the rumors — early next year, right? I think that would be a wicket for me, you know, to open up the main card at home.”

As Australia continues to produce a new wave of MMA talent, Salkilld stands out as one of the nation’s brightest rising stars. Do you see him as a future contender in the UFC’s lightweight division? Share your thoughts below.