Payton Talbott is stepping into the biggest spotlight of his young career at UFC 323 in Las Vegas, where the fast-rising bantamweight says he plans to “stand in the way” of Henry Cejudo’s planned retirement fight and possibly send the former double champ into retirement on a loss.
A Newcomer Standing Across from a Hall-of-Fame Resume
UFC 323 pits
Payton Talbott, one of the promotion’s most talked‑about bantamweight prospects, against
Henry Cejudo, the former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion and Olympic gold medalist who has publicly framed this bout as his final fight.
Talbott, fighting out of the United States, competes at
bantamweight (135 lbs) and has been building momentum with his undefeated rise and fan‑friendly style, earning a feature profile on ESPN among the
“30 best MMA fighters under 30 in 2025.” That list highlights him as part of the new wave expected to shape the next era of the sport.
For Cejudo, 37, this matchup offers a chance to walk away with a win after a long, decorated career. For Talbott, it is the kind of name that can instantly catapult him from “promising prospect” to legitimate contender
.
From Training Partner to Potential Retirement Spoiler
There’s an emotional twist to this fight: Talbott has actually trained with Cejudo in the past.
Speaking at UFC 323 media day, Talbott told reporters that he once went down to work with Cejudo, and the former champ took an active interest in mentoring him — not just as a fighter, but as a professional and a person. Talbott recalled that Cejudo gave him detailed advice on:
- Finances and long‑term planning
, stressing how short and unforgiving a fighting career can be
- The importance of taking care of the people around you
, because MMA is such a “selfish sport” and fighters often rely heavily on coaches, family, and teammates who pour into them without much public credit
Talbott said those lessons stuck: Cejudo “really just left me with you got to take care of yourself financially and you really have to take care of your people.”
Now, the man who once gave him life and career advice is standing in front of him as the opponent he may retire.
Talbott admitted he never expected to be that guy. After Cejudo’s previous bout against Song Yadong, there was already talk that the next one might be the last for “Triple C.” Talbott said he watched that fight and felt “really bummed,”
thinking Cejudo needed to “go out on a win” — and instead, Talbott now finds himself “standing in the way of that.”
Why This Fight Got Made — And Why Talbott Said Yes
Talbott suggested that UFC matchmakers had to work their way down a list of names before landing on him as Cejudo’s final opponent. He told MMA Junkie that the matchup went “down the line and got a lot of nos, but Henry said yes,” and Talbott, of course, accepted.
That narrative adds another layer:
- Established contenders may have seen the risk in fighting a still‑developing but dangerous prospect
- Talbott, with less to lose and everything to gain, jumped at the opportunity
For him, this is more than a big name on a poster. He called it a “big opportunity for redemption”
— a chance to show he belongs in the elite tier of one of the UFC’s deepest divisions.
Stylistic Chess Match: Wide Karate Stance vs. Relentless Pressure
In terms of preparation, Talbott sounded fully locked in on what Cejudo brings.
He acknowledged that everyone knows what’s coming
: the “wide karate stance” and the mix of high‑level wrestling with awkward, darting entries that defined Cejudo’s run at the top. Rather than being intimidated, Talbott framed this as the perfect stage to rise to his opponent’s level, saying that when his opponent looks better, he rises to the occasion as well.
Cejudo has praised Talbott’s potential in his own media appearances, saying he saw a lot in the young fighter even back when they trained together. That kind of endorsement from a former champion underscores just how seriously insiders are taking Talbott’s ceiling.
The Prospect Label Is Fading Fast
Talbott’s run has drawn enough attention that ESPN’s fighter profile
for him now sits alongside regular news items and rankings discussion. He is highlighted in features such as the “30 best MMA fighters under 30 in 2025”
, where analysts point to his age, finishing ability, and composure as key signs he could be a long‑term factor at 135 pounds.
On ESPN’s fighter page, Talbott is listed as a bantamweight out of the USA
, with live stats, fight history, and recent highlights that show a pattern: activity, durability, and a knack for putting on entertaining fights. It’s exactly the profile the UFC likes to push onto main cards once the right dance partner appears — and there are few better names than an Olympic champion and former double UFC titleholder.
Personal Views on Cejudo’s Persona
Talbott also gave a small, candid glimpse into how he views Cejudo’s sometimes controversial public persona.
Cejudo is known for over‑the‑top trash talk and cringey self‑promotion, something many fans love to mock. Talbott said he doesn’t really get “cringed out” by Cejudo himself, and even described him as someone “totally down to bomb and just really like sell it out”
— a recognition that Cejudo leans into the character for promotional effect.
He did, however, distance himself from some of the people around Cejudo, joking that he wants to tell Henry, “bro, stay away from that guy,” when asked about one of Cejudo’s controversial associates. It’s a subtle but clear sign that Talbott is comfortable carving out his own identity rather than riding anyone else’s wave.
What’s at Stake for Both Men
This fight carries drastically different stakes depending on which corner you look at.
For Henry Cejudo
:
- A final chance at a storybook retirement
with a win over a young, dangerous opponent
- An opportunity to prove he can still neutralize modern prospects with his Olympic‑level grappling and championship experience
For Payton Talbott
:
- A potential career‑defining win
over a Hall‑of‑Fame resume
- A fast‑track route into the bantamweight title conversation if he can convincingly beat a legend
- The mental complexity of retiring someone who once mentored him — and doing it in a sport he calls “selfish” by nature
If Talbott wins, he doesn’t just add a ranked name to his record; he rewrites the closing chapter of Cejudo’s story and plants his own flag in the division’s upper tier. If he loses, he gains irreplaceable experience against one of the most accomplished fighters to ever compete at his weight.
What This Means for the Bantamweight Division
The UFC’s bantamweight division is already stacked with killers, but this matchup could accelerate a changing of the guard.
- A Talbott win
would likely vault him into bigger name fights and maybe even top‑10 contention, validating the hype reflected in ESPN’s under‑30 ranking.
- A Cejudo win
would allow him to retire on a high note and serve as a measuring stick: if a prime Cejudo could still turn back a touted young gun, it underlines how elite his skill level remained to the end.
Either way, UFC 323’s bantamweight showdown is more than just another main card booking. It’s a live snapshot of MMA’s generational shift** — with Payton Talbott positioned squarely at the center of it.
Sources
1. Payton Talbott will 'stand in the way' of Henry Cejudo's retirement ...
2. Payton Talbott (Bantamweight) MMA Profile - ESPN
