UFC bantamweight contender Payton Talbott has disclosed that a potential bout with former champion Sean O’Malley was being discussed. Talbott is set to make his return to the Octagon this Saturday at UFC 332, where he will face former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in the event’s co-main slot.
The young fighter, holding a 5-1 UFC record, is coming off his biggest victory to date after defeating two-division champion Henry Cejudo last December at UFC 323. Although Talbott hasn’t competed since then, he revealed that the UFC had been in talks about arranging a fight with O’Malley at UFC Freedom 250 in June. However, the fight never came to fruition.
On his YouTube channel, Talbott confirmed the O’Malley matchup was on the table but eventually fell through. Instead, O’Malley fought Aiemann Zahabi, whom he knocked out impressively on the White House lawn. Talbott humorously remarked about the series of opponents claiming foot injuries that prevented fights, wondering if something strange was going on or if other factors were at play.
Despite missing out on the O’Malley fight, Talbott has a significant chance to climb the bantamweight rankings with his upcoming bout against Figueiredo at UFC 332. Latest betting odds heavily favor Talbott with a -700 line.
Fan Take: This revelation about the near O’Malley fight highlights the unpredictable nature of UFC matchmaking and the common challenges fighters face with opponent withdrawals. Talbott’s upcoming fight against Figueiredo is crucial—if he wins decisively, it could dramatically reshape the bantamweight landscape and set up bigger title-picture opportunities.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
