Lies?
Top Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight prospect Payton Talbott scored the biggest victory of his career when he ran through former two-time Flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 332 this past weekend (Sat., Oct. 3, 2026) inside Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah (watch highlights).
Immediately afterward, Talbott called out former Bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley.
“You can’t run forever,” Talbott said.
Earlier in the week, Talbott claimed that O’Malley had turned down
a fight against him at UFC Freedom 250. Now, “Suga” is pushing back — and according to him, that offer never existed.
“We’ll address the ducking allegations first of all,” O’Malley said on The SuGuru Show. “I don’t like bringing family into this, but I swear on my family that I did not get offered Payton Talbott at the White House.
“Here’s the thing: if he can also swear that he did, then there was miscommunication somewhere along the line.”
O’Malley, however, believes Talbott simply invented the story.
“I feel like he made it up,” O’Malley continued. “I don’t think he ever got offered me. I can’t imagine them offering someone a fight without asking ‘Suga,’ the A-side. They asked this guy? They would ask me. I never got offered Payton Talbott at the White House, so that’s that. He called me out, and that sounds good.”
O’Malley isn’t opposed to fighting Talbott, particularly if Petr Yan loses his upcoming rubber match against Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333 later this month.
However, if Yan recaptures the title, “Suga” would rather pursue the tougher — and more rewarding — matchup.
“If Petr goes out there and loses, let’s squabble,” O’Malley said. “Me and Payton, let’s make it happen. If Petr goes out there and wins, I’m ducking Talbott for a tougher fight. I’m ducking him for Petr Yan.”
O’Malley also pointed toward his recent strength of schedule as evidence that he has never avoided difficult competition.
“Four of my last seven fights have been against three of the greatest Bantamweights of all time: Petr, Aljamain Sterling and Merab,” O’Malley said. “And I beat Merab once, so I’ve beaten all three of the greatest Bantamweights of all time. I ain’t ducking.”
O’Malley then joked that he doesn’t exactly fit the profile of Talbott’s previous two opponents. The 28-year-old prospect has now defeated former Flyweight champions Figueiredo and Henry Cejudo, both of whom are considerably shorter and older than him.
“Why would I fight this f—king tall, lanky, good striker when I can fight Petr Yan?” O’Malley joked. “Should I go down to ’25 and then bounce back up?”
Despite questioning Talbott’s version of events, O’Malley remains a fan of the surging contender and appreciates the free publicity that came with the callout.
“I remember watching Payton Talbott on Contender Series, and I was like, ‘That motherf—ker is sick,’” O’Malley said. “I knew I’d probably fight him someday.
“I like his style inside the Octagon and outside the Octagon. He’s got swag. This is what you want in the sport. You want people calling you out. You want your name out there. It’s a fun stylistic fight. I like that. It’s good for me.”
Several pieces still need to fall into place before O’Malley vs. Talbott becomes a reality, beginning with the UFC 333 Bantamweight title fight.
But after Talbott’s public callout and O’Malley’s response, the groundwork has officially been laid.
For complete UFC 332 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.
