Talbott wants busier 2027 after UFC 332 vs. Figueiredo — SkimNews
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- Payton Talbott faces former two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City on Saturday, his first fight since December's win over Henry Cejudo.
- Talbott told CBS Sports that bouts with Sean O'Malley and Cory Sandhagen were discussed but fell through — O'Malley was passed over for Figueiredo, and Sandhagen didn't happen due to card logistics.
- The 28-year-old Talbott, ranked outside the bantamweight Top 10, says he wants ranked opponents and more activity in 2027, and called himself a bigger attraction than UFC 332 main eventers Natalia Silva and Wang Cong.
- Talbott took down Olympic gold medalist Cejudo three times in December; back-to-back wins over former champions would give him 'something substantial to show' for a quiet 2026.
- Raoni Barcelos, the only man to beat Talbott (January 2025), collapsed in the fifth round of his Sept. 26 fight against Raul Rosas Jr. and was stretchered out of the Meta APEX — a sight Talbott linked to his own months-long vertigo after their bout.
Why it matters: Talbott is publicly asking UFC matchmakers to keep him active after a year of stalled plans, and a win over a second straight former champion would give him credible leverage to demand a ranked opponent and a Top 10 push in a bantamweight division where matchmaking has already cost him months.
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