Payton Talbott Blasts UFC Over Lost Year as He Returns Against Figueiredo at UFC 332
Payton Talbott says potential opponents kept pulling out with broken feet while the UFC left him on the shelf for most of 2026.
Payton Talbott is one of the most exciting young fighters in the UFC, and he has spent most of 2026 sitting at home wondering why nobody will book him.
Talbott has not fought since December, when he dominated Henry Cejudo in the former champion's retirement fight. Now he returns this Saturday against two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in the co-main event of UFC 332 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
The 28-year-old told MMA Sucka he had discussions about fighting in April, May and June, but nothing materialized. "I've had talks all throughout the year about potentially fighting and things just never happened," Talbott said. He added that he was supposed to fight Sean O'Malley at the White House event but the bout fell through.
Talbott claims multiple potential opponents backed out with injuries. "Supposedly when I was supposed to fight them they all had a broken foot," he said.
Despite the frustration, Talbott says he is in peak form. "I'm nearing my prime, I'm young, I'm healthy, I'm feeling the strongest and fastest I've ever been," he told MMA Sucka. A win over Figueiredo on Saturday would put him right back in the title conversation at bantamweight.
I feel for Talbott. The kid demolished Cejudo in December and then watched everybody else get booked while he sat by the phone. That is nine months of a young fighter's prime just evaporating. The UFC has a nasty habit of shelving guys who do not have a big enough name yet, even when they are finishing former champions.
Figueiredo is a serious test and a smart matchup for both guys. Talbott needs a statement win, and Deiveson needs to prove he still belongs at bantamweight. I think Talbott's speed and length give him the edge, but Figueiredo has knockout power that can ruin anybody's Saturday.
If Talbott gets his hand raised, the UFC needs to stop playing games and give him a ranked opponent before the end of the year. This kid is too good to waste.
