Talbott Ends Yearlong Layoff in UFC 332 Co-Main Event
Payton Talbott will step back into the Octagon on Saturday, October 3, 2026, when he faces former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in the co-main event of UFC 332 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The three-round bantamweight bout marks Talbott's first appearance since December 2025, when he defeated Henry Cejudo by unanimous decision at UFC 323 — a victory that retired the former two-division champion.
Talbott (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) has been sidelined for nearly a year despite remaining ready to compete. The 28-year-old revealed during UFC 332 fight week that he was offered a matchup with Sean O'Malley for the UFC's historic White House card in June, but the fight never materialized. Rather than let the downtime stall his development, Talbott says he used the layoff to self-reflect and overhaul his approach.
"I stayed ready and trained pretty much the entire year, and I feel like I kind of reinvented myself. I went back to my roots — went inward," Talbott told UFC.com. "You pick up all of these techniques as you develop in the sport. Sometimes you take things and implement them into your game, but sometimes the reason why you got where you are is because of you."
Figueiredo (25-7-1 MMA, 14-7-1 UFC) enters the bout as a sizable underdog. The 38-year-old former two-time flyweight champion has lost back-to-back fights against Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong. He is currently ranked No. 9 at bantamweight, while Talbott sits at No. 11.
Poirier, Masvidal Split on UFC 332 Co-Main Event
The matchup has divided prominent figures in the MMA community. On UFC on Paramount+, Dustin Poirier backed Figueiredo to upset the odds, directly opposing Jorge Masvidal's pick of Talbott.
"I [have] got to go with Figueiredo, man," Poirier said, pushing back on Chris Weidman's assertion that Talbott is an almost guaranteed winner. Masvidal had leaned toward the favorite but expressed reservations: "I would like to bet on Figueiredo. I like odds like that, but his mind just hasn't seemed like he's all there for me at this moment. So, I'm going to go with the favorite."
Henry Cejudo, who shared three rounds with Talbott, offered a detailed breakdown and high praise for his former opponent. "Payton Talbott, my last fight, he beat the brakes off of me," Cejudo said on his "Pound 4 Pound" podcast. "That dude could crack. Deiveson, at his age, he has to make those adjustments."
Cejudo pointed to Figueiredo's need to attack Talbott's lead leg and avoid the straight punches that stunned him during their fight. "Payton cracks. He cracked me hard. I was dizzy from the first punch he threw." Still, Cejudo sees Talbott as the favorite: "He's the younger fighter, he's the more sharper fighter with his hands. He's got the length and then the distance recognition."
A Defining Moment for Talbott's Championship Ambitions
The bout carries significant stakes for both men, but particularly for Talbott. A victory over a former champion would solidify his position as a legitimate contender in the UFC's bantamweight division and validate his extended preparation. Cejudo believes a win should propel Talbott into high-profile matchups against the division's elite.
"He needs to fight (Marlon) 'Chito' Vera next with a victory over Deiveson," Cejudo said. "Sean O'Malley denied that fight with him. Payton Talbott would beat the brakes off of him. Cory Sandhagen — I think all of these matchups are really good for Payton. Depending on how he looks with Deiveson: Give him Cory Sandhagen."
Talbott's reinvention comes with a specific focus on addressing weaknesses. His only professional loss — an upset submission defeat to Raoni Barcelos in 2024 — exposed vulnerabilities against relentless grapplers. He showed marked improvement in wrestling defense against Cejudo, and Figueiredo will test whether those gains have held during the layoff.
For Figueiredo, the fight represents an opportunity to halt a two-fight skid and reassert himself in a new weight class. At 38, a win over a rising prospect would extend his career at the top level, while a fourth consecutive defeat since 2024 would raise questions about his future in the sport.
The bout has also drawn interest for its stylistic contrast. Figueiredo's kick-heavy, pressure-oriented approach will meet Talbott's longer frame and sharp boxing. Cejudo emphasized that Talbott's ability to fight backward, use feints, and employ lateral movement will determine whether he can neutralize Figueiredo's advances.
What Talbott's Return Means for the Bantamweight Division
Talbott's year away from competition comes at a time when the UFC bantamweight division is undergoing significant change. The 28-year-old was widely viewed as a future title challenger after dismantling Cejudo, but inactivity left him watching others climb the rankings. His return signals a renewed push toward contention.
UFC 332 marks the promotion's fourth numbered event in Utah, following sellouts at UFC 278, UFC 291, and UFC 307. The card is headlined by Natalia Silva vs. Wang Cong for the vacant women's flyweight championship. A strong performance from Talbott in the co-main event could steal the show and accelerate his trajectory.
"I'm excited to see Payton fight to see how much better he's gotten since me and him fought," Cejudo said. "If he's been able to really learn how to fight backwards, use his feints a little bit more, and then more of those lateral movements, I think Payton is top five in the world."
Saturday night will reveal whether the reinvention is real and whether Talbott's potential can translate into a statement victory.
Comments