Payton Talbott didn't merely win at UFC 332; he put in a performance that could totally alter a fighter's standing in the UFC bantamweight division.
On October 3, 2026, Talbott defeated former two-time UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo by technical knockout in the first round at 2:09 during the co-main event at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. This win brought Talbott's professional record to 12-1 and extended his winning streak in the UFC to three fights. Most significantly, it marked his first two consecutive victories over former UFC champions following his unanimous decision win against Henry Cejudo at UFC 323.
Talbott then made it clear who his next target was in the interview following the fight: Sean O'Malley.
The fact that this development introduced another storyline meant that O'Malley has now replied by denying Talbott's assertion that he had previously refused a fight with him and stating that he had never actually been given the chance to fight. This ongoing exchange has made a possible Talbott versus O'Malley match even more interesting.
Talbott at once put pressure on the former champion and managed to dominate him with his speed and powerful strikes; a sharp right hand knocked Figueiredo down early on, but it was an elbow against the fence that marked the start of the downfall. Throughout the fight, Talbott kept the advantage by landing continuous attacks and delivering heavy blows until referee Jason Herzog intervened at 2:09 in the first round.
The official result was that Payton Talbott defeated Deiveson Figueiredo by technical knockout at 2:09 in the first round. The UFC's official results confirm the stoppage and the exact time.
The fact that Talbott won makes the result all the more remarkable since Figueiredo was a former two-time UFC flyweight champion and had fought at the top level. Talbott didn't just beat him in a tough match; he dominated the fight and caused the referee to halt it before the first round had ended.
It was a strong comeback for a fighter who had been away from competition for months.
His latest series of races is of great significance.
His first win was against Henry Cejudo at UFC 323; after that, he remained out of competition for over nine months before coming back to fight Figueiredo at UFC 332. Instead of appearing to have ring rust, he seemed to be quicker, more precise, and more aggressive.
The UFC itself pointed out that during his absence, Talbott had worked on various interests and had reconsidered his way of looking at life and training. It seems that this longer break had little effect on slowing down his development.
He now has two former champions listed among his recent achievements.
It alters the discussion that takes place around him.
The chart is also changing rapidly.
Petr Yan is the current holder of the UFC bantamweight title, with Merab Dvalishvili in first place and Sean O'Malley in second. Song Yadong, Umar Nurmagomedov, Mario Bautista and Cory Sandhagen come after them.
Talbott is still therefore some distance from the title picture, but his momentum is beyond doubt.
He is no longer just an undefeated prospect; in fact, he is a UFC bantamweight who has won twice in a row against former champions.
It is important to note this when the UFC chooses his next opponent.
When Joe Rogan was interviewing him in the Octagon, Talbott stated that he had "mopped the floor" with two champions in a row and wished to take on another, immediately challenging O'Malley.
Although it was an aggressive callout, there is still a logical basis for it.
O'Malley is currently ranked second in the division and is still one of the UFC's top stars at 135 pounds; he has previously won the UFC bantamweight title, so a win over him would give Talbott another prestigious name on his resume.
Talbott later made it clear that O'Malley is simply ranked above him and admitted that the final decision might depend on how his own ranking changes. He also thinks their fighting styles could make for an exciting match, giving reasons for this in terms of the similarities in their size, speed, and power.
The interest in the story increased afterward when O'Malley gave a response.
Prior to UFC 332, Talbott had stated that O'Malley had previously refused a possible fight against him at the UFC White House event. Following the most recent callout, however, O'Malley firmly denied that account of what had happened.
O'Malley stated that he had never been formally given the opportunity to fight Talbott and denied having avoided the match. He also referred to his recent schedule, pointing out that four of his last seven fights had been against three of the division's top contenders: Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili.
Nevertheless, O'Malley's reply did not entirely close the door on Talbott.
Rather, the situation seems to be largely determined by the outcome of the upcoming bantamweight title fight between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333.
O'Malley has said that a confrontation with Talbott might be reasonable if Yan loses; but if Yan wins, then O'Malley would like to have another chance against Yan.
This means that the forthcoming title fight is especially important for the next chapter of Talbott's career.
Yan is the champion, Dvalishvili is the top contender, and O'Malley comes in at number two.
It therefore follows that the outcome of the fight between Yan and Dvalishvili will decide whether O'Malley is available for Talbott.
If Yan keeps the championship title, O'Malley might then seek another chance to fight Yan, which could present a potential obstacle for Talbott.
If Dvalishvili wins, the situation might become more complicated since O'Malley has already fought him twice and lost both times, making it hard to justify scheduling another fight at this stage. That would make Talbott a far more attractive choice.
That is to say, Talbott's next opponent won't be decided entirely by how he performs; the outcome of the championship might alter the whole queue above him.
Talbott is a rising player of great promise. O'Malley is one of the most well-known stars in the division. Since both of them are known for their aggression, speed and vibrant personalities, the match could prove to be very marketable.
There is also a quite definite issue concerning competition.
Can Talbott's aggressive offensive style be effective against a fighter who has O'Malley's ability to manage distance, together with his timing and experience when facing top-tier bantamweights?
We have not yet come across that.
Talbott needn't certainly be given a title eliminator right away since he is ranked 12th and O'Malley is 2nd; a move of that magnitude would be rare even after such a splendid win.
A confrontation with another player in the Top 10 might be the more conventional approach.
The UFC has always been willing to speed up a fighter if his performance and personality warrant it.
He has now won three fights in a row and has beaten two former champions one after the other; his win over Figueiredo was also his first fight in about 10 months, which makes the performance all the more impressive.
He didn't need to decide.
Five rounds were not necessary.
He didn't need a finish that caused arguments.
He moved forward, located the opening, wounded Figueiredo, and ended the fight after 129 seconds.
It's the kind of performance that causes matchmakers to take notice.
With a record of 12-1 and having won eight knockout bouts as well as a string of fights against former UFC champions, he has already shown that he belongs at a high level.
The next move is to prove that his style is effective against the present generation of top bantamweights.
Figueiredo and Cejudo provided Talbott with valuable experience in fighting established champions, but neither of them presents the same kind of challenge that he will now face near the top of the current 135-pound rankings.
A struggle against O'Malley would at the same time provide answers to several questions.
Can Talbott deal with top-level counterstriking?
Can he keep up his aggressive attitude towards someone who can punish errors?
Would he be able to win a technical match if he doesn't have any early finishing opportunities?
It will be these questions that decide whether Talbott is just an exciting contender or a genuine future title challenger.
There are at the moment a number of feasible options.
Payton Talbott's fight is the most prominent one, since the callout has already been made, O'Malley has replied to it, and there is obviously a promotional interest in the bout.
The other alternative is to have a competitor who is ranked, possibly one among the top ten; this would enable Talbott to keep rising rather than having to drop directly from 12th to 2nd place.
The third option is based on the bantamweight title fight.
On October 3, 2026, Talbott defeated former two-time UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo by technical knockout in the first round at 2:09 during the co-main event at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. This win brought Talbott's professional record to 12-1 and extended his winning streak in the UFC to three fights. Most significantly, it marked his first two consecutive victories over former UFC champions following his unanimous decision win against Henry Cejudo at UFC 323.
Talbott then made it clear who his next target was in the interview following the fight: Sean O'Malley.
The fact that this development introduced another storyline meant that O'Malley has now replied by denying Talbott's assertion that he had previously refused a fight with him and stating that he had never actually been given the chance to fight. This ongoing exchange has made a possible Talbott versus O'Malley match even more interesting.
Payton Talbott Stops Deiveson Figueiredo in 2:09
The result in the match against Figueiredo was decisive.Talbott at once put pressure on the former champion and managed to dominate him with his speed and powerful strikes; a sharp right hand knocked Figueiredo down early on, but it was an elbow against the fence that marked the start of the downfall. Throughout the fight, Talbott kept the advantage by landing continuous attacks and delivering heavy blows until referee Jason Herzog intervened at 2:09 in the first round.
The official result was that Payton Talbott defeated Deiveson Figueiredo by technical knockout at 2:09 in the first round. The UFC's official results confirm the stoppage and the exact time.
The fact that Talbott won makes the result all the more remarkable since Figueiredo was a former two-time UFC flyweight champion and had fought at the top level. Talbott didn't just beat him in a tough match; he dominated the fight and caused the referee to halt it before the first round had ended.
It was a strong comeback for a fighter who had been away from competition for months.
Talbott's Record and Recent Momentum
Talbott's record is now 12-1-0, having secured eight professional knockout victories and one win by submission according to his UFC profile; he has also won six out of his first seven fights in the UFC.His latest series of races is of great significance.
His first win was against Henry Cejudo at UFC 323; after that, he remained out of competition for over nine months before coming back to fight Figueiredo at UFC 332. Instead of appearing to have ring rust, he seemed to be quicker, more precise, and more aggressive.
The UFC itself pointed out that during his absence, Talbott had worked on various interests and had reconsidered his way of looking at life and training. It seems that this longer break had little effect on slowing down his development.
He now has two former champions listed among his recent achievements.
It alters the discussion that takes place around him.
Payton Talbott Is Now a Ranked Bantamweight
In the most recent UFC rankings, Talbott is ranked 12th in the bantamweight class; this is an important position since it means he has now entered the Top 15 as a result of his win against Figueiredo.The chart is also changing rapidly.
Petr Yan is the current holder of the UFC bantamweight title, with Merab Dvalishvili in first place and Sean O'Malley in second. Song Yadong, Umar Nurmagomedov, Mario Bautista and Cory Sandhagen come after them.
Talbott is still therefore some distance from the title picture, but his momentum is beyond doubt.
He is no longer just an undefeated prospect; in fact, he is a UFC bantamweight who has won twice in a row against former champions.
It is important to note this when the UFC chooses his next opponent.
Talbott Calls Out Sean O'Malley
Right after the Figueiredo stoppage, Talbott made it plain that he had no intention of making another minor move.When Joe Rogan was interviewing him in the Octagon, Talbott stated that he had "mopped the floor" with two champions in a row and wished to take on another, immediately challenging O'Malley.
Although it was an aggressive callout, there is still a logical basis for it.
O'Malley is currently ranked second in the division and is still one of the UFC's top stars at 135 pounds; he has previously won the UFC bantamweight title, so a win over him would give Talbott another prestigious name on his resume.
Talbott later made it clear that O'Malley is simply ranked above him and admitted that the final decision might depend on how his own ranking changes. He also thinks their fighting styles could make for an exciting match, giving reasons for this in terms of the similarities in their size, speed, and power.
Sean O'Malley Responds to Talbott
The interest in the story increased afterward when O'Malley gave a response.
Prior to UFC 332, Talbott had stated that O'Malley had previously refused a possible fight against him at the UFC White House event. Following the most recent callout, however, O'Malley firmly denied that account of what had happened.
O'Malley stated that he had never been formally given the opportunity to fight Talbott and denied having avoided the match. He also referred to his recent schedule, pointing out that four of his last seven fights had been against three of the division's top contenders: Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili.
Nevertheless, O'Malley's reply did not entirely close the door on Talbott.
Rather, the situation seems to be largely determined by the outcome of the upcoming bantamweight title fight between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333.
O'Malley has said that a confrontation with Talbott might be reasonable if Yan loses; but if Yan wins, then O'Malley would like to have another chance against Yan.
This means that the forthcoming title fight is especially important for the next chapter of Talbott's career.
Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili Could Change Everything.
Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili are currently tied in the possession of the bantamweight title picture.Yan is the champion, Dvalishvili is the top contender, and O'Malley comes in at number two.
It therefore follows that the outcome of the fight between Yan and Dvalishvili will decide whether O'Malley is available for Talbott.
If Yan keeps the championship title, O'Malley might then seek another chance to fight Yan, which could present a potential obstacle for Talbott.
If Dvalishvili wins, the situation might become more complicated since O'Malley has already fought him twice and lost both times, making it hard to justify scheduling another fight at this stage. That would make Talbott a far more attractive choice.
That is to say, Talbott's next opponent won't be decided entirely by how he performs; the outcome of the championship might alter the whole queue above him.
Should Sean O'Malley be Fighter Number One?
From a promotional point of view, O'Malley is entirely reasonable.Talbott is a rising player of great promise. O'Malley is one of the most well-known stars in the division. Since both of them are known for their aggression, speed and vibrant personalities, the match could prove to be very marketable.
There is also a quite definite issue concerning competition.
Can Talbott's aggressive offensive style be effective against a fighter who has O'Malley's ability to manage distance, together with his timing and experience when facing top-tier bantamweights?
We have not yet come across that.
Talbott needn't certainly be given a title eliminator right away since he is ranked 12th and O'Malley is 2nd; a move of that magnitude would be rare even after such a splendid win.
A confrontation with another player in the Top 10 might be the more conventional approach.
The UFC has always been willing to speed up a fighter if his performance and personality warrant it.
Talbott's Biggest Advantage: Momentum
The main advantage Talbott now has is momentum.He has now won three fights in a row and has beaten two former champions one after the other; his win over Figueiredo was also his first fight in about 10 months, which makes the performance all the more impressive.
He didn't need to decide.
Five rounds were not necessary.
He didn't need a finish that caused arguments.
He moved forward, located the opening, wounded Figueiredo, and ended the fight after 129 seconds.
It's the kind of performance that causes matchmakers to take notice.
Might Payton Talbott Become a Future Champion of the UFC?
It is still too early to regard Talbott as a future champion, but the question is becoming more sensible.With a record of 12-1 and having won eight knockout bouts as well as a string of fights against former UFC champions, he has already shown that he belongs at a high level.
The next move is to prove that his style is effective against the present generation of top bantamweights.
Figueiredo and Cejudo provided Talbott with valuable experience in fighting established champions, but neither of them presents the same kind of challenge that he will now face near the top of the current 135-pound rankings.
A struggle against O'Malley would at the same time provide answers to several questions.
Can Talbott deal with top-level counterstriking?
Can he keep up his aggressive attitude towards someone who can punish errors?
Would he be able to win a technical match if he doesn't have any early finishing opportunities?
It will be these questions that decide whether Talbott is just an exciting contender or a genuine future title challenger.
What's Going to Happen to Payton Talbott Next?
There are at the moment a number of feasible options.
Payton Talbott's fight is the most prominent one, since the callout has already been made, O'Malley has replied to it, and there is obviously a promotional interest in the bout.
The other alternative is to have a competitor who is ranked, possibly one among the top ten; this would enable Talbott to keep rising rather than having to drop directly from 12th to 2nd place.
The third option is based on the bantamweight title fight.
