Payton Talbott explains what it might take for Sean O’Malley to accept his callout versus waiting for title shot

Payton Talbott is campaigning for a matchup with former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley following his dominant victory over ex-flyweight titleholder Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 332, where he needed just over two minutes to secure the finish. The callout marks Talbott's third consecutive win and comes after a previously planned UFC White House meeting between the two never materialized.

However, Talbott acknowledges that his path to facing O'Malley may hinge on the outcome of the Petr Yan versus Merab Dvalishvili trilogy bout scheduled for UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi. "We'll see what happens with Merab and Yan," Talbott said at the UFC 332 post-fight press conference. "If Merab wins then it's a no-brainer. He's already fought Merab plenty of times and lost."

Dvalishvili has defeated O'Malley twice already, making a third meeting unlikely regardless of the trilogy's outcome. Conversely, O'Malley holds a victory over Yan from a competitive bout that previously elevated him toward title contention. Should Yan prevail in Abu Dhabi, he would likely position himself for another title shot, potentially complicating an immediate O'Malley matchup with Talbott.

Talbott believes he matches up favorably with O'Malley stylistically, citing his own power and physical frame as advantages. "Stylistically, I feel like we match up very well," he said. "I think I have a little bit more power. I think I have more muscle on my frame, and I think I'm just as quick because of my age." The rising bantamweight sees the fight as his opportunity to break into the division's upper tier.