LAS VEGAS – Payton Talbott and Henry Cejudo are true professionals. Talbott has improved greatly since his loss to Raoni Barcelos in January, defeating the Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler twice. UFC 323 on Saturday in Las Vegas.. Outgunned and outsized, Cejudo was never outclassed in his last MMA fight, but still fell short on the scorecards to the young Talbott.
Saturday's top fighters delivered an exciting fight that won't soon be forgotten. Cejudo, bloodied and battered, fought through a crimson mask, refusing to retire quietly. The second round was particularly memorable as Cejudo withstood the onslaught of the attack, striking back with pitbull-like ferocity.
The size difference between Talbott and Cejudo was obvious. Talbott, who was 11 years younger than his opponent, towered over the former two-division champion. He used his power and strength to hurt Cejudo in every round. Talbott pointed to center several times, Max Holloway-style, in the third round. Cejudo accepted the invitation every time.
Talbott's wrestling was perhaps more impressive than his flashy punches. In January, Barcelos handed Talbott his first loss after landing eight takedowns. Fast forward to December, Talbott not only stopped Cejudo's takedowns, but also defeated the Olympian twice.
Cejudo is retiring for the second time following his previous retirement in 2023. The return match of his career was inconclusive: Cejudo lost 0–4. But his legacy was cemented long before Saturday. Cejudo became a two-division UFC champion, defeating legend Demetrius “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and bantamweight greats TJ Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz. In his last performance, Cejudo refused to go down without a fight.
This victory is undoubtedly the biggest of Talbott's career. Next week, he will likely move into the UFC's official top 10 bantamweight rankings, usurping Cejudo's spot. He also completely outplayed a reliable Hall of Famer on the pay-per-view main card. The future looks bright for one of the promotion's most sought-after young players.
