Preview: UFC 316 Prelims

Lightweights
Quillan Salkilld (8-1) vs. Yanal Ashmouz (8-1)
Odds: Salkilld (-485), Ashmouz (+370)

Two interesting lightweights square off here. Salkilld looks to build off the momentum of his UFC debut in February, where the Australian marked himself as someone worth watching. After dropping his professional debut in 2021, Salkilld had a fairly clean rise, showing some solid striking and grappling on the regional scene before earning a decision win over Gauge Young to earn a contract on the Contender Series this past September. That showing against Young was decent enough, even if it still left some questions as to how Salkilld would fare against better competition - but his UFC debut was much more of a statement, as he annihilated Anshul Jubli in just nineteen seconds. Up next for Salkilld is Israel's Ashmouz, who's proven to be a UFC-level fighter in three outings so far. Powerful but undersized, Ashmouz has tended to rely on big bursts of offense, which worked perfectly in his UFC debut against Sam Patterson early in 2023, as "Red Fox" was quickly able to obliterate a much taller opponent. In the time since, Ashmouz has split his two fights but has yet to recapture that particular brand of violence, instead relying on his wrestling to find most of his success - though admittedly, his hand was forced a bit by breaking his wrist early in his fight against Chris Duncan, and refusing a brawl against Trevor Peek is the smart path to victory. Ashmouz could just bulldoze his way to some form of victory against the much less proven Salkilld, but the Australian looks sharp enough - particularly on the mat if things come to that - to stay ahead here and keep things fun; the pick is Salkilld via decision.

Jump To »
Silva vs. Van
Murzakanov vs. Ribeiro
Spivac vs. Cortes-Acosta
Williams vs. Gustafsson
Mederos vs. Choinski
Lipski da Silva vs. Wang
Saragih vs. Yoo
Salkilld vs. Ashmouz