UFC 317: Highly Touted Prospect Payton Talbott Set to Return to Action Against Felipe Lima
According to a report from MMA Fighting, highly touted prospect Payton Talbott is ready to make his return to action when he faces Felipe Lima in an interesting bantamweight scrap added to UFC 317 on June 28 in Las Vegas. Multiple sources with knowledge of the promotion’s plans confirmed the news to MMA Fighting on Saturday, following an initial report from Frontkick Online.
Talbott, 26, boasts an undefeated record through nine fights, but his momentum was halted when he faced Raoni Barcelos at UFC 311 in January. Barcelos handed Talbott the first loss of his career, via unanimous decision. As MMA Fighting previously reported, Talbott had run roughshod over his competition prior to the Barcelos fight, but ultimately met his match.
The American prospect will now look to get back on track when he faces off with Lima, who has a record of 14-1. Lima has scored back-to-back wins since joining the UFC roster, taking out Muhammad Naimov in his debut before defeating Miles Johns in his second octagon appearance. As noted by MMA Fighting, Lima will attempt to make it three wins in a row when he faces Talbott in June.
The addition of Talbott vs. Lima to the UFC 317 card marks another exciting matchup for the International Fight Week event. The card is headlined by Ilia Topuria’s return to 155 pounds, where he faces Charles Oliveira to crown a new champion in the lightweight division, following Islam Makhachev’s decision to relinquish his belt and move to welterweight. In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja puts his flyweight title on the line against Kai-Kara France.
As quoted in the original MMA Fighting report, Guilherme Cruz contributed to this story. With this latest addition to the UFC 317 card, fans can expect an action-packed event that will take place on June 28 in Las Vegas.
The bout between Talbott and Lima is a significant one for both fighters, as they look to make a statement in the bantamweight division. As MMA Fighting reported, Talbott is highly regarded as a prospect, and a win against Lima could propel him up the rankings. On the other hand, Lima will look to prove that his back-to-back wins in the UFC are more than just a fluke, and a victory against Talbott would be a significant step in establishing himself as a contender.
UFC 317 promises to be an exciting event, with a stacked card featuring some of the biggest names in the sport. With the addition of Talbott vs. Lima, fans can expect a thrilling bantamweight matchup that will set the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable night of fights.
