Why Are We Giving Payton Talbott to Sean O’Malley?

Why Are We Giving Payton Talbott to Sean O’Malley?

I can understand why a recent win over Deiveson Figueiredo has fans how high Payton Talbott’s ceiling is. What I absolutely DON’T UNDERSTAND, is why that win means we should be skyrocketing him to a matchup with Sean O’Malley.

I picked Payton via decision and was proven wrong when he finished the Brazilian with an early first round KO at UFC 332, I will confess that. It’s not to say it wouldn’t be a fun fight, and wouldn’t bring some competitive moments, but I’ve talked to people who say it would even be CLOSE.

Why Sean O’Malley Fighting Talbott is Blasphemy

Suga is a former champ which seems to be the selling point which Talbott used to stoke the flames of that fight, and even Suga seems on board provided Merab loses his next match up with Yan, but I think a win over an aging brazilian shouldn’t automatically mean facing the third top dog at 135. 

I’m not saying you give him to Song Yadong either (though that would be a fun fight). I’m saying there’s plenty of real estate between the number 7 and the number 3 in the rankings.

Umar Nurmagomedov just got sent into the shadow realm, but could still be another great test for Talbott, and what about a Cory Sandhagen matchup? I believe Talbott has the makings of a star, but do we want to push him to the top just yet?

It’s a tricky thing, giving talented young fighters big fights and not pushing them too fast, and Talbott definitely has potential to be the voice of our (in 26) generation. He’s a guy that likes gaming, Frank Ocean, and is comfortable not really conforming into a box.

He’s unique in very amazing ways and puts on fun fights. I do think it boils down to MMA being a very “what have you done for me lately” type of sport.

Final Thoughts on O’Malley vs Talbott

There was a time where Suga was everyone’s favorite new fighter, and if he wasn’t, he was putting belt to a** on your favorite fighter, and Peyton Talbott was being called a fraud because he lost to Raoni Barcelos via UD. What, you get a win over Figueiredo and Cejudo (both impressive but both guys who were older and coming off 3 fight loss streaks) and all of a sudden you’re  a title contender?

I personally think that’s insanity, and while that’s a fun fight to make, part of it to me feels wrong without another top 5 guy in front of him first.