UFC 332’s Payton Talbott is on a roll, dominating two former champs and calling for a third, offering out Sean O’Malley for an all-or-nothing showdown. Talbott alleged he was meant to fight O’Malley at UFC White House, with ‘Suga’ turning it down. The fight seems like fate, given their larger than life appearances, and ruthlessness on the feet, but is it the right move for Talbott?
O’Malley has built a reputation for being the matador in his fights, intercepting lazy striking and mesmerising opponents with slick footwork to hammer them with strikes. Of all the things Talbott does right, head movement and varied entries aren’t included. Where I’m concerned, the version of Talbott who knocked out Figueiredo gets knocked out by O’Malley.
Despite fan appeal, O’Malley isn’t some marauding kickboxer who backs his opponents up. He creates moments of ease where opponents think they’re safe, then he cracks them at a point of weakness. There’s no greater example than his championship KO over Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292, where he prodded Sterling with a teep, stepped into a squared stance (while framing with the jabbing arm for range), and thumped Sterling as he blitzed what he assumed was a vulnerable opponent. (1)
I implore you to watch Talbott’s highlights and tell me he doesn’t make linear entries with his head on the center line and chin up high. I’ll post some examples from recent fights with Figueiredo and Cejudo. (2,3)
While Talbott is as bloodthirsty as they come and his finishing instinct is exceptional, his style lends itself almost perfectly to O’Malley’s counter-striking. And it can’t be understated, O’Malley has the best counter-ability at bantamweight, if not the whole UFC.
Talbott shows glimmers of greatness, whether it be his off-rhythm striking, or intercepting knees (with uncanny timing), but over-reliance on a solid chin and hairline reaction times is not how you beat a slick operator like O’Malley.
And yet more, the best way to challenge O’Malley is by threatening the grappling. That’s why Dvalishvili could stand-and-bang with a much better striker, and why Yan proved a bigger threat than just being a good kickboxer.
Unfortunately, Talbott doesn’t threaten the grappling, and thus, allows O’Malley to operate in his own wheelhouse, which as we’ve seen, has not worked out for literally any of his opposition in the promotion.
I like Talbott a lot, and I’d gladly eat my words should he defeat O’Malley if they eventually fight. But, up until they enter the cage, I think O’Malley is a nightmare fight for UFC’s next golden star.
