Why Quillan Salkilld doesn't have a nickname

QuillanSalkilld has quickly ascended the ranks in the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight division, but theAustralian has opted against having a nickname.While many fighters embrace a moniker to help build their identityboth inside and outside the Octagon, Salkilld has chosen to competesolely under his name and recently explained why.

Quillan Salkilld always wanted a nickname 'bestowed' on him,but nothing stuck

In a recent interview ahead of his first main event in the UFC,Salkilld was asked why he doesn't have a traditional nickname. Heexplained that he wants to be given one, rather than picking onehimself."I think my name is hard enough to pronounce," Salkilld said. "Ihave always wanted not to give myself a nickname and have one, justlike, you know, bestowed upon me. Yeah, I have had my coach come upwith a couple of them, and yeah, they weren't… They were just allp*ss takes and jokes. Sidelined them; I will just stick to my realname."Salkilld takes on the biggest step up in competition of his careerso far at UFC Vegas 120, squaring off against MateuszGamrot on Aug. 8 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. He's 5-0 in the UFCwith four first-round finishes since earning a contract on Dana White's Contender Series.