Payton Talbott hopes to be the next big thing in Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) Bantamweight division.
An intriguing prospect clash is on tap for UFC Vegas 89 this weekend (Sat., March 23, 2024). In the promotion’s deep 135-pound division, Talbott (7-0), will make his sophomore Octagon appearance against South Africa’s Cameron Saaiman (9-1).
Both fighters are 25 and 23, respectively, with potentially very long careers ahead of them. Saaiman will look to rebound off his first career loss with a win over Talbott. The Las Vegas-born combatant understands the target that comes with a flawless record and that there’s still plenty to prove. However, he thinks he’s done so compared to others who have yet to lose.
“I think there’s a lot of frauds that are undefeated,” Talbott said at UFC Vegas 89 media day. “There’s a lot of guys that haven’t been tested. So, I always understand the suspicion, and I am beatable. Everybody is.
“You gotta look at the regional scene because I’m only 1-0 in the UFC,” he concluded.
Like many young prospects in UFC since Dana White’s Contender Series arrived in 2017, Talbott earned his promotional contract with a unanimous decision win over Reyes Cortez in August 2023. His UFC debut came against Nick Aguirre, whom he submitted with a third round rear-naked choke in November 2023 (watch highlights).
“I think I’m being tested,” Talbott said. “I lose all the time in the training room. That’s where I get a lot of my lessons, and I’ve lost a lot throughout life.
“I wasn’t super happy with my last performance, but I think I really got tested with my last opponent because it was just a stylistic nightmare for me, and I still came out with the win,” he concluded.
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 89 fight card right here, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, which are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, then the remaining main card balance on ESPN (simulcast on ESPN+) at 10 p.m. ET.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 89: “Namajunas vs. Ribas” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.