LAS VEGAS – Payton Talbott hopes to fight Sean O'Malley one day just because he hates the comparisons.
Talbott (6-0) rallied to beat Junior Cortez (7-3) Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 57, setting a new bantamweight record for significant strikes landed.
Like O’Malley, Talbott is a long and rangy striker – and also happens to sport a similar hairstyle. O’Malley is about to challenge for the bantamweight title, but Talbott would rather not be compared to him.
“I say this every time, but I’d really like to fight Sean O’Malley because everybody compares me to him, but it drives me crazy,” Talbott told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “If I have a year or two to climb up to those ranks, then I see myself doing really well against him.”
Prior to beating Cortez, Talbott had finished all his fights. He sees value in going the distance for the first time, but would have loved another stoppage win.
“I was pretty pissed that I didn’t finish him,” Talbott said. “I felt like the nut kick kind of changed the pace a little bit. I still had like two minutes, but that’s my bad, I shouldn’t have kicked him in the nuts… I’ve always known that I can go that long, my cardio is fine. But, I really wanted to finish him tonight.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 57.
