Rising Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight prospect Payton Talbott returns to the Octagon against fellow standout Felipe Lima this weekend (Sat., June 28, 2025), at UFC 317 inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Following his first professional loss in his most recent fight, many anticipated Talbott would face a less challenging opponent to rebuild momentum. Instead, the UFC matched him with Lima, a formidable prospect who has been dominant inside the Octagon.
Talbott, unfazed by the difficult matchup, revealed that the UFC struggled to find him an alternative opponent on short notice.
“I don’t think they really wanted to matchmake us,” Talbott told reporters at UFC 317 media day. “If I had control over when I fight, where it is, who it is, and could have everything be super certain, that would be a perfect world, but I’m happy to fight this guy. This is a tough fight for me, and that’s what I’m here to do.”
“I mean, this is fighting. This isn’t a ‘build-the-star’ business,” Talbott added. “So, I wasn’t surprised at all [by the matchup]. If we’re both doing our jobs well, maybe we’ll meet again in a year or two.”
Despite the difficulty, Talbott is excited for the opportunity to showcase his skills against a high-caliber opponent.
“I just think it’s going to be a good fight,” Talbott said. “We’re both going to show up to bang. I think he’s legit, durable, and super well-rounded. I think it’s a really good opportunity to show what I can do as well with a high-level opponent.”
Talbott is currently a +154 betting underdog.
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This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
