Payton Anthony Talbott (Payton Talbott) was born on Sept. 9, 1998, in Las Vegas, Nev. He is a mixed martial artist, currently with the UFC in the Bantamweight division. He grew up mostly in Reno, Nev., and is of African American and Choctaw descent. His mother is a plastic surgeon; he has four siblings, one sister and three brothers.
Talbott began with high school football and wrestling, but after watching highlights of Conor McGregor, he transitioned to MMA. He started training at Reno Academy of Combat in 2017.
Early Life
Talbott was raised in Reno after his family relocated from Las Vegas. He developed into a top-notch competitive wrestler at Reno High School. He would later take a break from sports to concentrate on college. He is a 2022 graduate of the University of Nevada, where he received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in music.
Arts outside of sports he enjoys skateboarding, collecting vinyl and listening to artists such as The Doors, Pink Floyd, Neil Young, Tupac and the Bee Gees. His family even has ties to pole fitness.
Talbott fought his first amateur MMA bout with only 7–8 months of training. He finished his fights and borrowed them to get the belt, winning them all.
Professional Career Beginnings
In his first professional fight, Talbott claimed victory via second round TKO at FirePower 3: Magnum Force on November 27, 2021. He backed that up with a TKO win at FirePower 4. He captured the A1 Combat Bantamweight Championship on May 28, 2022 with a second-round TKO of Hector Fajardo. Then he defended that title twice with highlight-reel finishes — a flying knee against Anthony Jimenez and punches and elbows against Cristhian Rivas.
He signed with the promotion after a successful stint on Dana White’s Contender Series Season 7, Week 1 on August 8, 2023. He won his fight with Reyes Cortez Jr. by unanimous decision and a UFC contract.
UFC Rise
Talbott made his UFC debut on November 18, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 232. He won by third-round submission, rear-naked choking Nick Aguirre. He furthered his rise with Performance of the Night bonuses following TKOs of Cameron Saaiman on March 23, 2024 and Yanis Ghemmouri on June 29, 2024. His winning victory over Ghemmouri at UFC 303 was realized within just 0:19 — the third fastest finish in UFC Bantamweight history.
He suffered his first professional defeat on January 18, 2025 at UFC 311 losing via unanimous decision against Raoni Barcelos. He rebounded with a unanimous decision victory over Felipe Lima at UFC 317 on June 28, 2025. Talbott is expected to face Henry Cejudo in UFC 323 on December 6, 2025.
Fighting Style and Achievements
Talbott is 5’10” tall and has a 70.5-inch reach. He is mainly a striker, with seven of his nine professional wins coming by KO/TKO. He also has one submission win and one decision victory. Known for his aggressive, knockout-focused style, he combines strong stand-up skills with a solid wrestling base and sharp hand-fighting techniques.
His achievements include:
- Two UFC Performance of the Night awards
- A1 Combat Bantamweight Championship with two title defenses
- 2024 Third Team MMA All-Star (MMA Fighting)
- An undefeated amateur career
He trains at the Reno Academy of Combat and is recognized for his exciting, fan-friendly style.
Personal Life
Talbott keeps his personal life mostly private but often credits his family for supporting his journey. His mother and sister are both involved in pole fitness. In June 2024, he met skateboarding legend Tony Hawk — one of his idols.
Outside of MMA, he enjoys skateboarding, collecting vinyl records, and sharing his progress online. There is no public information about his relationship status or children. For now, his main focus is his growth and success in MMA.
Payton Talbott: Key Personal Facts
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Payton Anthony Talbott |
| Age | 27 (born September 9, 1998) |
| Height | 5’10” (178 cm) |
| Weight/Reach | 135 lbs (61 kg) Bantamweight; 70.5-inch (179 cm) reach |
| Net Worth | Estimated $500,000–$1 million from UFC fights, sponsorships, and bonuses; no confirmed figures but rising with profile |
| Nationality/Heritage | American (Las Vegas/Reno, Nevada); African American and Choctaw Native American descent |
| Family | Mother (plastic surgeon, pole fitness instructor); one sister (pole fitness instructor); three brothers; family-focused, keeps private |
| Education | Bachelor’s in Psychology, minor in Music from University of Nevada, Reno (2022) |
| Gym/Team | Reno Academy of Combat |
| Hobbies/Interests | Skateboarding, vinyl collecting (The Doors, Pink Floyd, Neil Young, Tupac, Bee Gees), wrestling/football background |
| Relationship Status | Single/no public info on spouse or children |
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Payton Talbott: Records and Achievements
| Category | Details |
| Pro MMA Record | 10-1-0 (7 KO/TKO, 1 SUB, 2 DEC) |
| Amateur Record | 5-0-0 (3 KO/TKO, 2 SUB) |
| UFC Record | 4-1-0 (2 KO/TKO, 1 SUB, 1 DEC win; 1 DEC loss) |
| Key Wins | Yanis Ghemmouri (KO 0:19, UFC 303, 3rd fastest UFC Bantamweight KO); Cameron Saaiman (TKO Rd2, UFC ESPN 53); Felipe Lima (UD, UFC 317); Nick Aguirre (SUB Rd3, UFC FN 232) |
| Key Loss | Raoni Barcelos (UD, UFC 311) [webUpcoming: vs. Henry Cejudo (UFC 323, Dec 6, 2025) |
| Championships | A1 Combat Bantamweight Champion (1 defense: flying knee KO vs. Anthony Jimenez; 2nd: TKO vs. Cristhian Rivas); 2x KOTC Amateur Bantamweight Champion |
| UFC Awards | Performance of the Night (x2: vs. Saaiman, Ghemmouri) |
| Other Honors | Dana White Contender Series contract (UD vs. Reyes Cortez Jr.); MMA Fighting 2024 Third Team All-Star; Bantamweight record for significant strikes landed on DWCS |
| Fighting Style/Stats | Striking specialist (70% KO/TKO rate); SLpM high, wrestling base, hand-fighting expert |