UFC Vegas 120 being the only Apex card between June 20 and September 26, it stuck out like a sore thumb on the promotion’s summer schedule. However, it must be said that it played as well as it probably could have. On paper, the card was unimpressive, to say the least, but it gave us a slew of highlight-reel finishes and standout performances, none bigger than Quillan Salkilld’s in the main event. With UFC Vegas 120 now in the books, let’s look at what’s next for the winners.
Quillan Salkilld
This was by far the biggest test of the young Salkilld’s career. Mateusz Gamrot is what you could describe as an elite gatekeeper. His losses to Charles Oliveira, Dan Hooker and Beneil Dariush put a cap on his ceiling, but beating him still firmly puts you inside the division’s top 10. At just 26 years old, the Aussie dismantled the much more experienced Gamrot faster than Do Bronx did not even a year ago.
Salkilld now puts himself in a position to realistically face just about anyone at lightweight. Oliveira, Max Holloway, Benoit Saint Denis, Paddy Pimblett, the winner of the Ortega/Moicano rematch or the Paris main event, etc., there are endless possibilities for him, now. However, the one I see as most probable is the loser of the UFC 331 co-main event.
Salkilld’s next fight: Tsarukyan/Ruffy loser
Diego Ferreira
It was just another night at the office for the two old dogs in the co-main event. The two notoriously action-oriented veterans earned themselves ‘Fight of the Night’ honours. This win doesn’t impact Ferreira’s position in the lightweight division in any substantial way; it simply keeps him in the promotion. I doubt the UFC will give Ferreira another age-appropriate matchup and I suspect they will throw him at a younger fighter who will try and squeeze the last bits of action the Brazilian has left in him. There’s no better candidate to do just that than Terrance McKinney.
Ferreira’s next fight: Terrance McKinney
Yadier del Valle
Yadier del Valle fighter played spoilers to Darren Elkins’ retirement fight, knocking him out in just 35 seconds. The Cuban came in as an enormous betting favourite, and he proved that the fight was lined correctly. There’s a number of featherweights that del Valle could face next, but Bogdan Grad seems like a sensible matchup as they’ve both just bounced back from the first UFC losses.
del Valle’s next fight: Bogdan Grad
Alexia Thainara
With this win, Alexia Thainara will break into the strawweight top 10. However, with her last three wins coming by decision. It’s difficult to see her overtaking Tatiana Suarez, Fatima Kline or a returning Zhang Weili in the title picture. Someone is going to have to draw the tough, undesirable assignment that is Virna Jandiroba, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Thainara.
Thainara’s next fight: Virna Jandiroba
Ty Miller
The 26-year-old Ty Miller came into this fight as a four-to-one betting favourite and he looked the part. He put a beating on Billy Ray Goff on his way to a third-round finish. With this win, Miller moves to 2-0 in the promotion and keeps his perfect record intact. With the welterweight division being as competitive as it is, there shouldn’t be any rush for the UFC to push Miller up the ranks. I would stick with the Adam Fugitts and Billy Ray Goffs of the world, for now. Someone like Oban Elliott would make a good dance partner.
Miller’s next fight: Oban Elliott
