Payton Talbott bounced back in a big way with a dynamic striking and grappling performance to beat Felipe Lima to kick off the UFC 317 main card on Saturday.
From counter wrestling to ground and pound while showcasing some blistering combinations on the feet, Talbott showed off massive improvements after suffering the first loss of his career. When it was over there was no doubt that Talbott did enough to win with the judges all scoring the fight 29-28 in his favor after three rounds.
“It feels much better,” Talbott said after getting the nod. “Now that I’ve come back from a loss, I feel like I’ve got the full scope of things. I learn while I’m fighting. I’m still learning every time I get in the cage. It’s all about having fun in here.”
Talbott was leading the charge as he moved forward to start the fight but Lima cracked him with several stinging shots that definitely got his attention. Lima then snatched a leg to go for a takedown but Talbott did a fantastic job to roll through and actually reverse the position as the fighters hit the canvas.
On top, Talbott unloaded some stiff elbows but Lima was quick to scramble and escape back to his feet. Another grappling exchange yielded no real success for either fighter as Talbott and Lima continued to battle for position.
As the second round got started, Lima tagged Talbott with a nasty combination but he decided to turn to his grappling again, which ended with him on his back again. Talbott immediately hammered him with a big punch from the top but ultimately decided to stand up again.
Talbott continued to put pressure on Lima where he popped him with another straight punch and the Brazilian’s head snapped back in violent fashion. Another takedown reversal followed with Talbott blasting Lima with a nasty elbow as the momentum continued to shift into his favor.
With five minutes remaining, Lima’s coaches stressed to have faith in his striking and he came out firing right away. Lima was mixing things up well but he once again turned to his grappling to plant Talbott on the ground.
Unfortunately, Lima’s struggles on the ground continued with Talbott quick to get up again and he immediately launched a quick spinning heel kick that nearly landed clean. As time ticked away, Talbott delivered more ground and pound and really showed how much he’s learned in a relatively short amount of time since his last appearance in the octagon.
As far as what comes next, Talbott had a name in mind for a future opponent.
“I’ve been asking for Adrian Yanez for a minute,” Talbott said. “Let’s run it.”
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