Quillan Salkilld has boldly declared he will follow in the footsteps of Jack Della Maddalena and Stephen Erceg by becoming the next West Australian mixed martial artist to fight in the UFC.

Salkilld (5-1) will defend his Australian Lightweight Championship against Dom Mar Fan (4-1) in the main event of Eternal MMA 82 at HBF Stadium on Saturday night.

The 24-year-old hopes it will be his last fight defending the title, as he eyes a shot at the big time in the UFC alongside world N0.12 flyweight Erceg and No.11 welterweight Della Maddalena, who are also Eternal MMA alumni.

“I’m going to be next in there. I’m going to be the next Aussie boy to make some noise in the UFC,” Salkilld said.

I’m going to be next in there. I’m going to be the next Aussie boy to make some noise in the UFC.

“I haven’t heard from them (the UFC), but I’ve got my fingers crossed that I’m really close now.

“We’ve got a hidden talent pool here in WA. We’ve got some high-level fighters over here and it’s inspiring to see two WA boys not only in the UFC but are successful and ranked in the top 15.”

Salkilld was closing in on the UFC last year when he was scheduled to compete in the Road to UFC TV series, but it fell through.

Still he has been in the sights of the organisation, even getting a mention on their website as one of the fighters to watch and describing him as “one of the most dangerous fighters outside of the UFC”.

Salkilld is on a five-fight win streak and faces Mar Fan for the second time in less than 18 months, with the West Australian earning a third-round submission win with a rear naked choke to hand the Queenslander his first and only career loss to date.

“I’m feeling good, I’ve had a good camp and have improved in all facets but mainly my strength game. I feel like I’m going to dominate this fight,” Salkilld said.

“He presents a good challenge for me. He’s improved since the last time we fought and I know he’s going to be hungry to get that loss back.

“I’ve used that as motivation knowing that he’s going to be giving 110 per cent, coming at me to try to take my belt but also to avenge his loss.”

Salkilld is set to start off what will be a big few months for WA fighters to start 2024.

Della Maddalena (16-2) is set for the biggest fight of his career to date when he takes on world No.4 and former welterweight title contender Gilbert Burns (22-6) at UFC 299 on March 10.

If the 27-year-old is looking for a seventh-consecutive win to start his UFC career and put himself in the frame to fight welterweight champion Leon Edwards.

Erceg (11-1) will take on no.9 ranked flyweight Matt Schnell at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on March 3 as he also hunts for a shot at champion Alexandre Pantoja.

The 28-year-old hopes a win over Schnell will set him up to face the loser of former two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno and Brandon Royval who fight later this month.