Payton Talbott Targets Sean O’Malley After Dvalishvili vs. Yan Outcome
Payton Talbott sees a potential fight with Sean O’Malley on the horizon. This prospect hinges on the result of an upcoming title trilogy.
Talbott impressed fight fans at UFC 332 this past Saturday, defeating former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo by first-round TKO. He secured the finish after landing a right hand that dropped Figueiredo, followed by subsequent strikes.
Following his UFC 332 win, Talbott identified a challenging bout against O’Malley as a logical next step. Speaking to reporters in Salt Lake City, Talbott suggested this matchup makes sense if Merab Dvalishvili wins against Petr Yan for the bantamweight title at UFC 333.
"We'll see what happens with Merab and Yan," Talbott stated. "To be frank, if Merab wins, it's clear. He's fought Merab multiple times and lost. If Yan wins, then we'll have to assess. He's ranked higher than me, and my own ranking will be a factor. I recognize my current standing, but it’s an exciting potential fight. I believe we both should want it. He's considered the best striker in our division, and I want to test that."
The 28-year-old fighter has been on an upward trajectory in the bantamweight division. After his first professional MMA loss to Raoni Barcelos in early 2025, Talbott secured a three-fight win streak. During this run, he has defeated Felipe Lima, Henry Cejudo, and now Figueiredo.
O’Malley has faced Dvalishvili twice, losing the bantamweight title in their initial encounter. He has since won against Song Yadong and Aiemann Zahabi. O’Malley believes a championship opportunity awaits him if Yan defeats Dvalishvili on October 24.
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