Payton Talbott Says Long-Running Figueiredo Talks Finally Yielding Matchup

Payton Talbott has revealed that a long-anticipated matchup with Deiveson Figueiredo is finally coming together, after the two sides spent much of the year in negotiations that repeatedly failed to reach the finish line.

Talbott, 28, expressed genuine excitement about the prospective bout, noting that the talks had dragged on for months. He acknowledged a frustrating stretch during that period when Figueiredo instead took a different fight — against Song — at a point when Talbott believed the matchup was nearly finalized. Despite that detour, Talbott says he is glad the fight now appears to be moving forward.

The American bantamweight out of Reno Academy of Combat carries an 11-1 record and sits ranked eleventh in the division. At six-foot-ten in reach terms — his 70-inch reach belies his five-foot-ten frame — Talbott is one of the more active strikers at 135 pounds, landing 6.05 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy. He operates out of a switch stance and has been steadily climbing the bantamweight ladder.

Figueiredo, nicknamed "Deus da Guerra," brings a 25-6-1 record and holds the ninth spot in the bantamweight rankings. The 38-year-old Brazilian is a former two-division champion whose grappling remains a constant threat, averaging 1.61 takedowns and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes. Standing five-foot-five with a 68-inch reach, he presents a notably different physical profile from Talbott.

Why it matters

• Both fighters are ranked inside the bantamweight top 11, meaning a decisive result could carry significant title-picture implications.
• The stylistic contrast is sharp — Talbott's high-volume striking against Figueiredo's grappling-heavy, submission-minded approach.
• Figueiredo, at 38, is looking to reassert himself in a division he once dominated, while Talbott is still building toward a first title shot.