Who is Payton Talbott, meet American UFC bantamweight star who has climbed 5 spots to reach in top 10 ranking

Payton Talbott has moved up five places in the latest UFC bantamweight rankings and is now ranked No 7. The American fighter has become one of the division’s rising names. His ranking rise comes after an impressive first-round TKO win over former UFC champion Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 332 on October 3, 2026.Talbott, 28, has built a 12-1 professional record since turning pro in 2021. He has recorded eight wins by knockout, one by submission and three by decision. His only professional defeat came against Raoni Barcelos in January 2025. Raul Rosas Jr. is now ranked No. 10 in the UFC bantamweight division.

Payton Anthony Talbott was born on September 9, 1998, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He later grew up in Reno. He stands 5 feet 10 inches tall and competes at 135 pounds.

He has a 70.5-inch reach.Before MMA, Talbott played football and competed in wrestling. He attended Reno High School and later graduated from the University of Nevada in 2022. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and also completed a minor in music.

Talbott started training in MMA in 2017 at the Reno Academy of Combat. His interest in the sport began after watching highlights of Conor McGregor at a restaurant.

He had stepped away from sports while focusing on college.He made his amateur debut in 2018. Talbott went 5-0 as an amateur and finished all five opponents. He also became a two-time King of the Cage Amateur Bantamweight Champion.His UFC journey began after an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series in August 2023. Talbott defeated Reyes Cortez Jr. by unanimous decision and earned a UFC contract.He made his UFC debut against Nick Aguirre in November 2023.

Talbott won by third-round submission. He then stopped Cameron Saaiman by TKO and earned his first UFC Performance of the Night bonus.At UFC 303, Talbott scored another impressive finish. He knocked out Yanis Ghemmouri in only 19 seconds. The victory earned him another Performance of the Night bonus.

His first professional setback came against Raoni Barcelos at UFC 311. Talbott lost by unanimous decision after being outwrestled.He bounced back with decision wins over Felipe Lima and former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo. His victory over Cejudo came at UFC 323 in December 2025. It was the final fight of Cejudo’s career.Talbott then delivered the biggest statement of his career against former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. He won by first-round TKO at UFC 332.The victory has now pushed Talbott to No. 7 in the UFC bantamweight rankings. With Raul Rosas Jr. sitting at No. 10, the bantamweight division has another group of young contenders chasing the top spots.Talbott’s record now stands at 12 wins and one loss. Eight of his victories have come by knockout. His rapid rise has made him one of the fighters to watch in the UFC bantamweight division.