Payton Talbott is a nuanced and talented competitor making his PPV debut at UFC 303. This weekend he takes on Yanis Ghemmouri, here’s how the two match up as Talbott’s story of Psychedelia, switch-hitting and self-belief continues.
A Superstar In the Making?
Sean O’Malley is a genuine novelty. He’s an acid-soaked switch-hitting power puncher and adept hand fighter, who sports expressive hairstyles and relishes in his unorthodox training methods. So, it seems somewhat reductive to examine the nascent comparisons between the champion and Payton Abbot (an alleged O’Malley prototype) currently loitering on the edge of the bantamweight kingdom.
Yet as champion, O’Malley provides us with the current benchmark for excellence at 135, along with a comparable profile (O’Malley has an extra inch of height and two in reach) and switch-hitting acumen. So, in assessing the game of the flashy and charismatic Talbott, why ignore the stylistic similarities and distinct public personas that both launched Sugar Show and has driven Talbott to his PPV debut at UFC 303, above iconic and highly touted names such as Ricky Simon, Andre Arlovski and Michelle Waterson Gomez.
Fighter Profile
A street dancer and creative YouTuber, Talbott fights like he thinks, intuitively, expressively and in mind of appearance. This undoubtedly contributes to the public side of his winning personality, as he combines personal and professional influences in a synergistic formula, similarly responsible for the rise of icons like Tony Ferguson, Derrick Lewis and Matt Brown. What separates these individuals, is that their styles and fights are as many expressions of character as straight-up athletic contests, giving them a relatable edge that fuels fan interest and media engagement.
Talbott maintains an open stance, out of which he traditionally does his most damaging work, mixing up pull-back counters, high kicks and intercepting knees. To facilitate such exchanges, Talbott relies on his industrious footwork, effortlessly switching stances, (as though performing in a krumping contest) to strip his opponent of the natural defences that his shoulder and back muscles provide.
This permits him to strike in patterns up and down the opponent, combining stiff jabs and rear straights with selective bodywork. This activity was the key to victory in Talbott’s most recent bout against Cameron Saaiman, with Talbott repeatedly stunning him by switching to the open side of the retreating Saaiman, before finishing the fight with a neat check hook against a dazed opponent.
The power in Talbott’s hands is near-atomic, keeping his adversaries honest and intense exchanges. However, like most unwieldy weapons, their value is best preserved as a deterrent. As in practice, his explosive striking acts as a deception, allowing Talbott to easily close distance on his distracted opponents and fire off those bombs from unexpected angles, either by leaning forward at the waste or catching an opponent walking onto his rear pullback counter.
So, it’s no journalistic hyperbole to perceive art meeting life in the fighting career of Peyton Talbott. He has the mobility of a trained dancer (look no further than Vasiliy Lomachenko to see its value) and the illusory striking of a self-professed creative.
Yet Talbott is far from complete, and in his upcoming bout against Yanis Ghemmouri, some of his most explicit weaknesses will no doubt be displayed thanks to a compelling stylistic matchup.
A Dangerous Opponent
Ghemmouri has built his game on a myriad of low kicks. Targeting both the inside and outside leg with laser-like accuracy, he aims to fluster his opponents as he looks for entries to land straight shots. Furthermore, straight-up inactivity will be punished with a fight-ending oblique kick, a technique that is essentially cancer to the career of fast-moving switch hitters.
If Ghemmouri can evade the lightning strikes of Payton Talbott, he may be able to check his mobility by timing low kicks to Talbott’s stance switches and distance closure. However, this is a tall order, with Talbott simply owning many more weapons for Ghemmouri to consider before he can effectively implement a game plan.
A Bonified Prospect
Professional fighting is often a balancing act when it comes to the mental life of the combatants. Success requires levels of self-confidence and resolve that border on (and often spill into) religiosity, as the parts of the brain that high-level fighters rely on, are in effect the first to shut down for the average civilian when faced with single combat.
This admission only makes the quiet confidence of Payton Talbott all the more impressive, as his unorthodox style should predispose him to bouts of undisciplined aggression. He instead refuses to sell out in the hope of a quick finish with gimmicks or unnecessary effort, while retaining the composed foundation necessary for any fighter who aims to overcome the durable veterans that guard the entrance to the rankings.
So, is Talbott the next O’Malley? Certainly not. Switch-hitting, pull-back counters and expressive celebrations are where the similarities end. However, O’Malley’s position as an alternative superstar, who has cultivated a distinct niche within the fandom, thanks to a larger-than-life personality that bleeds into the cage; certainly works as a blueprint for the career path of Talbott. He is endowed with genuine charisma, technical acumen and a unique outlook on the sport, which will doubtless appeal to the legions of fans he will be exposed to at UFC 303.
