UFC Fight Night Picks: Gamrot vs. Salkilld Predictions (2026)
One week out from UFC 330, the promotion is back at the Meta APEX with another fight night card. A couple of lightweights are battling to remain in the top 10 or work their way into it. Mateusz Gamrot is putting his No. 8 ranking on the line against the twelfth-ranked Quillan Salkilld. The main card also features a ranked matchup in the women's strawweight division between Amanda Lemos and Alexia Thainara. It should be a great lineup of fights, with the prelims beginning at 5 p.m. ET and the main card kicking off at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount+.
Watch big title fights on DAZN>>
UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Salkilld Picks & Bets (2026)
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Diyar Nurgozhay (-142) vs. Bruno Lopes (+120)
Diyar Nurgozhay and Bruno Lopes have each struggled in their short UFC careers. Nurgozhay is 1-2 after earning a contract on Dana White's Contender Series. He got his first victory against Rafael Tobias via unanimous decision in March, after losing via submission to Brendson Ribeiro and Uran Satybaldiev.
Lopes is 1-2 after earning a contract on his second attempt on DWCS. He got knocked out by Navajo Stirling in March and by Dustin Jacoby in May 2025. His lone win was against Magomed Gadzhiyasulov.
Lopes has an advantage on the mat, and Nurgozhay has better striking. This fight comes down to how well Nurgozhay can defend takedowns. He defends 80% of takedowns in the UFC and has used offensive wrestling a bit. Lopes averages 1.93 takedowns landed per 15 minutes with 21% accuracy.
Lopes is slow on the feet. Nurgozhay should pick him apart and land powerful shots. He has to stay on his feet. Nurgozhay is clearly the better striker, and it should show.
Bet: Diyar Nurgozhay (-142)
Mateusz Gamrot (+120) vs. Quillan Salkilld (-142)
Quillan Salkilld is on a five-fight winning streak since earning a contract in the UFC on Dana White's Contender Series. He has finished four of those five victories in the first round (three knockouts, one submission), and has two wins this year. He beat Beneil Dariush via knockout in May, and Jamie Mullarkey via submission in January.
Mateusz Gamrot is a six-year UFC veteran with a 9-4 record in the UFC. He beat Esteban Ribovics in April via submission, but lost to Charles Oliveira via submission in October. Gamrot has beaten some really good opponents and has proven himself as a top-10 fighter in the lightweight division.
Gamrot's style is no secret. He wants to wrestle and control his opponent on the mat. He has recorded a takedown in every fight in the UFC, but he does not have elite striking. It would be hard to imagine Gamrot not landing a takedown, but it depends on how much Salkilld makes him work for it.
Gamrot averages 5.22 takedowns landed per 15 minutes, with only 38% accuracy. His accuracy is low because he is excellent at chaining together takedown attempts until he finally succeeds. His cardio is tremendous, but he has shown signs of weakness in later rounds when his opponent makes him work hard for takedowns.
Salkilld is a great grappler in his own right and has shown solid takedown defense. He defends 80% of takedowns. The advantage he owns is with his striking and power. He also has a five-inch reach advantage and is taller. I expect Salkilld to pick apart Gamrot when they are standing, especially with kicks and knees up the middle. Gamrot wants to get close, and Salkilld can make him pay up the middle and with his close-range boxing.
Bet: Quillan Salkilld (-142)