West Australian Quillan Salkilld will return to the Octagon in Sydney, after it was confirmed he'll headline the UFC Fight Night with a lightweight bout against Frenchman Benoît Saint Denis on February 7 (AEDT).
Salkilld, 26, is a former Australian rules footballer who turned to MMA after leaving school at 16, and boasts an impressive 13-1 professional record (6-0 in UFC) with five 'performance of the night' bonuses.
The Broome native has won four consecutive fights with a first-round finish, most recently submitting Mateusz Gamrot in their UFC Fight Night clash in Perth in August. He's widely regarded as Australia's next big combat star.
Meanwhile Saint Denis, 30, is one of the lightweight division's most dangerous finishers, and has a 17-4 professional record.
Peter Kloczko, senior vice president of UFC Australia and New Zealand, said the Fight Night -- to take place at Sydney's Afterpay Arena -- would be an "unforgettable event" featuring one of Australia's brightest young stars.
"UFC Fight Night Sydney is set to be another huge moment for Australian fans, and Quillan Salkilld versus Benoît Saint Denis is a main event that delivers everything we look for in this sport," he said in the official release.
"Quillan has been one of the breakout stars of the UFC's lightweight division, while Benoît is one of the most dangerous and exciting finishers in the sport. Bringing this fight to Sydney will make for an unforgettable night."
Further fights on the card will be released in due course.
