UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski shared his prediction for the upcoming main event at UFC Sydney, which features Australian rising star Quillan Salkilld taking on French fighter Benoit Saint Denis.
Volkanovski Breakdown of the Main Event
Speaking to UFC AUSNZ, Volkanovski discussed the lightweight matchup and the high stakes involved for Salkilld. He noted that a victory over Saint Denis would propel the winner into fights against top contenders like Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett, followed by a title opportunity.
“We were talking about how stacked that division is. A win against ‘BSD,’ he should be fighting your Ilia’s (Topuria), Paddy’s (Pimblett), and all that, and then fighting for a title. How could he not? So, that’s huge. He’s on a tear. I like ‘BSD’, Quillan smokes him,” Volkanovski stated, as reported by Bloody Elbow.
Fighter Momentum and Records
The 26-year-old Salkilld enters the bout on a six-fight winning streak in the UFC, securing five stoppages since joining the organization in 2025. His most recent victory came via submission against Mateusz Gamrot, marking the biggest win of his career.
Saint Denis enters the contest looking to rebound from a submission loss to Paddy Pimblett, which ended a four-fight winning streak. Despite losing momentum in his last outing, Saint Denis remains a dangerous opponent with strong early-round capabilities who will attempt to finish the fight quickly and test Salkilld’s credentials.
The UFC Sydney card is scheduled for February 7, 2027, at Afterpay Arena in Sydney, Australia, with betting odds not yet released for the main event.
