Man, if you blinked, you probably missed it. Payton Talbott just added another massive name to his growing resume, absolutely wrecking Deiveson Figueiredo with a first-round TKO in the UFC 332 co-main event. This dude is making a serious statement, and the division needs to pay attention, like, right now.
Talbott’s Lightning Strike: Figueiredo Had No Answer
From the jump, Talbott was all business. He wasted no time, dropping Figueiredo in the opening exchange with a monster right hand. Seriously, it looked like it was over right then and there. Figueiredo, to his credit, somehow managed to survive that initial onslaught, but things didn’t get any better for the former champion. Talbott kept the pressure on, flooring him again with a knee, and it was enough for the referee to step in and call an end to the bout. That’s a first-round TKO, folks. Talbott, at just 28 years old, is now 6-1 in the UFC, and get this: his last two wins are over former champions, Henry Cejudo and now Figueiredo. That’s a resume builder if I’ve ever seen one.
What’s Next for the Rising Contender? Staying Busy and Climbing Ranks
The biggest issue for this rising star? Inactivity. This fight was his first since beating Cejudo last December. There’d been all sorts of chatter about potential matchups with Cory Sandhagen and Sean O’Malley, but those never materialized. Now, Talbott is straight-up focused on staying busy. He told CBS Sports he’s not chasing a particular fighter yet, but it’s all about “definitely rankings.” He’s made it clear: he wants to be more active next year. And with top names like O’Malley, Song Yadong, and Mario Bautista currently without fights, there are definitely opportunities on the table.
Keep your eyes locked on Talbott, Emerald City. This guy is absolutely positioned to make a serious run at the title next year if he keeps this kind of activity going. The division is full of talent, but Talbott just showed everyone he’s ready to shake things up. Get ready for a wild ride. Oh, and hey, speaking of good news, just a quick blip from the headlines for all you 12s out there: Vinod Khosla just clarified that there are NO plans to move our Seahawks out of Seattle. Yeah, you heard that right. Looks like our team is staying put. Now *that’s* something else to cheer about!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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