Sean O'Malley says he's 'ducking' Payton Talbott for Petr Yan

Sean O'Malley addressed claims that he turned down a fight with rising bantamweight Payton Talbott, clarifying that his priorities hinge on the UFC bantamweight title picture rather than a reluctance to face the undefeated contender.

Talbott (12–1) called out O'Malley following a dominant knockout victory over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, with commentators backing the matchup as an intriguing next step for both fighters. However, O'Malley says he was never formally offered the bout for UFC Freedom 250 in June and emphasized that his focus remains on chasing gold.

The former champion's path forward depends entirely on Petr Yan's title defense. Yan faces Merab Dvalishvili in a bantamweight trilogy bout at UFC 333 on October 24 in Abu Dhabi. If Yan loses, O'Malley indicated he would be ready to face Talbott immediately. If Yan retains the belt, O'Malley plans to pursue a rematch with the Russian after their 2022 split decision loss.

"Petr goes out there and loses, let's squabble, me and Payton," O'Malley said on his YouTube channel. "Let's make it happen. Petr goes out there and wins, I'm ducking [Talbott]. I'm ducking him for a tougher fight. I'm ducking him for Petr Yan." He later defended his record, noting that he has fought and defeated three of the greatest bantamweights of his era—Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling, and Merab Dvalishvili—as evidence he does not avoid top competition.