Hyped Prospect Returns to UFC 317 Against a Very Tough Opponent
Payton Talbott returns to action after his hype train was derailed in one of the biggest upsets in recent memory against Raoni Barcelos at UFC 311. He returns to face another rising star who is 14-1, and looks like a potential world title challenger one day, Felipe Lima. These two young fighters will face off at UFC 317, which will have major implications for both of their futures. Will Talbott get back on track, or will the aggressive Lima prove to be too much for him to handle?
Payton Talbott came into the UFC with high expectations and the striking to get all the fans’ attention behind him. He won his first three fights all by finish and was looking on the rise in a stacked Bantamweight Division. However, he ran into a seasoned veteran who dragged him into deep waters and showed he has holes in his game he needs to work on. Barcelos recently had a huge career-defining win against Cody Garbrandt, which could have been Talbott’s spot. At 26 years old, he has a lot of time to get his cage time and experience up, but confidence is a huge part of the game. Normally, the UFC gives their top prospects a favorable matchup if they get fraud-checked, so this matchup is a real head-scratcher. Talbott did not respond well to the constant pressure and aggressive nature that Barcelos put on him. Therefore, Lima is going to give him the same treatment, but has more power and finishing ability, so he will need to be cautious in certain exchanges. If Talbott can keep this fight on his feet, he will give himself a chance to win, but he can’t get his back against the cage and get walked down, or he will find himself behind and in trouble. With the time off, we will see how much he has worked on his game and the improvements he needs to show if he wants to start the red-hot Brazilian.
Felipe Lima is currently on a 14-fight winning streak. He is a well-rounded fighter who is currently 2-0 in the UFC and has an impressive victory in his last fight over Miles Johns. The way he can mix his wrestling with his striking and constant forward pressure makes him a real dark horse in the Bantamweight Division. If he can circle away from the combinations that Talbott is going to throw, he will be able to slowly close the distance and shoot his takedowns. Once the fight gets to the ground, there will be an overwhelming difference in their skills, and Lima will have the ability to take control and potentially find a finish either with ground and pound or submission. If he can get past Talbott, a top-ranked opponent will be in his near future.
With Merab Dvalishvili retaining his title against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316, the Division is in desperate need of new fighters for the champ to face in the future. This is a great opportunity for both athletes to showcase their skills and potential. Talbott needs a win, and against a tough fighter on this long of a win streak, it will show that he is still the real deal. Lima is looking to make a name for himself at the expense of Talbott and will try to use this to propel his career. Whichever fighter comes out on top, don’t miss all the action on June 28th for UFC 317 with a main card start time of 10:00 p.m. EST.
