Sean O’Malley views the UFC 332 co-main event as a moment signaling a shift in the sport’s landscape. On October 3 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City (Paramount+), former UFC champion Deiveson Figueiredo (25-7-1 MMA, 14-7-1 UFC) faces off against Payton Talbott (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC). While Figueiredo has struggled recently, losing four of his last five fights, Talbott is coming into the bout riding high after securing the biggest win of his career against Henry Cejudo at UFC 323.
“There’s something exciting about Figueiredo versus Talbott,” O’Malley shared on his YouTube channel. “Payton Talbott has serious potential to climb the ranks and become a notable fighter. People genuinely enjoy watching his fights. He put on an amazing performance against Henry. It’s been a minute, but he looked sharp and dominated Henry thoroughly.”
FanDuel lists Talbott as a heavy -650 favorite, with Figueiredo a +440 underdog. O’Malley, a former UFC bantamweight champ, doubts that 38-year-old Figueiredo has much left to offer and is leaning toward Talbott for the outcome.
“I think Figueiredo is on a bit of a losing streak, right? He dropped fights to Song and Umar recently,” O’Malley added. “Whenever I watch him, I’m unsure if he really wants to be in the cage. He’s still dangerous, but that might not last for much longer.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Sean O’Malley questions Deiveson Figueiredo’s desire to fight before UFC 332.
Fan Take: This matchup highlights a potential passing of the torch between a fading veteran and a rising contender, a dynamic that keeps the sport fresh and exciting for fans. How Talbott performs against Figueiredo could signal the emergence of a new star and inject new energy into the division.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
