Payton Talbott needs Sean O’Malley. O’Malley needs one other shot at Petr Yan. And someplace within the center, the UFC has a bantamweight matchup that makes an excessive amount of sense to disregard.
Talbott made positive folks would hold speaking about him after UFC 332, stopping former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in simply over two minutes. It was his second straight win over a former champion following his choice victory over Henry Cejudo, and he did not waste a lot time calling for one more massive identify. This time, he needs O’Malley.
The previous champion has a special plan, however that does not imply the battle needs to be pushed to the again burner.
There are apparent causes O’Malley would slightly look forward to the title image to type itself out. Petr Yan is about to defend his bantamweight championship in opposition to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333 on Oct. 24. O’Malley has already crushed Yan, and a rematch would put him proper again within the title dialog. He is additionally coming off wins over Track Yadong and Aiemann Zahabi after struggling back-to-back losses to Merab. From his perspective, one other run on the belt is an affordable precedence.
However Talbott is not asking for this battle out of nowhere. He is 12-1, has gained three straight, and simply made fast work of a former champion. The 28-year-old is without doubt one of the division’s most intriguing younger abilities, and a matchup with O’Malley would give him the chance to show that his rise is greater than a promising run in opposition to skilled names.
The timing is a giant a part of what makes this battle so interesting. O’Malley stays one of many UFC’s greatest personalities, however he wants significant fights to remain within the dialog. A title shot often is the ideally suited final result, but it surely is not assured. If Yan loses to Merab, O’Malley’s clearest route again to the championship might disappear. He is acknowledged {that a} battle with Talbott might make sense in that state of affairs.
O’Malley has additionally pushed again in opposition to Talbott’s declare that the UFC mentioned reserving them in opposition to one another on the White Home occasion in June. He says he was by no means provided the battle and has rejected the suggestion that he is avoiding Talbott. That is an necessary distinction: there is no such thing as a confirmed proof that O’Malley turned down the matchup.
Nonetheless, the general public back-and-forth has given the potential battle a storyline earlier than both man has signed a contract.
And truthfully, the matchup sells itself past the callouts. Each fighters have the pace, timing and putting skill to make this an enchanting stand-up battle. O’Malley has spent years proving he can compete with the perfect within the division, whereas Talbott continues to be determining simply how excessive his ceiling goes. Watching the youthful fighter attempt to shut that hole in opposition to a former champion is strictly the sort of matchup that may flip a prospect right into a reputable contender.
There’s a threat for either side, which is exactly why the UFC needs to be . Talbott might discover out that he is not fairly prepared for somebody with O’Malley’s expertise and precision. O’Malley, in the meantime, can be taking up a harmful, hungry opponent with out the fast reward of a title battle. Neither man will get a simple evening, and the winner walks away with a a lot stronger case for what’s subsequent.
After all, the UFC has to account for the results of Yan versus Merab. If Yan wins, O’Malley has a robust argument for a title rematch, and it is comprehensible that he’d pursue it.
But when that chance is not there, Talbott needs to be subsequent in line for him. The UFC should not want months of negotiation or one other win from Talbott to make this occur.
Talbott has earned the proper to ask for a serious battle. O’Malley has earned the proper to chase the belt. These targets do not need to battle without end. The title image will ultimately type itself out, however the UFC has an opportunity to construct a compelling matchup proper now.
Make the battle when the timing is true. If O’Malley’s path again to the title runs by means of Yan, let that play out. But when the door closes, there is no motive to maintain Talbott ready.
This can be a battle that would inform us so much about the way forward for the bantamweight division — and one the UFC should not let slip away.
