O'Malley Rejects Talbott's Ducking Claims, Sets Title Condition for Fight

Sean O'Malley has angrily denied Payton Talbott's claim that he was offered a White House fight with the rising contender, calling the story fabricated — but says he will face Talbott next if Merab Dvalishvili beats Petr Yan at UFC 333.

O'Malley Rejects Talbott's Ducking Claims, Sets Title Condition for Fight

The war of words between Sean O'Malley and Payton Talbott has escalated into one of the most heated feuds in the UFC's bantamweight division. It began before UFC 332, when Talbott claimed on his YouTube channel that he had been lined up to face O'Malley at June's UFC Freedom 250 White House card and implied the former champion turned the fight down. After flattening Deiveson Figueiredo in the first round of Saturday's co-main event in Salt Lake City, Talbott used his microphone time to tell O'Malley he "can't run forever." O'Malley hit back hard on social media, insisting he was never offered the matchup and calling the rumours, in his words, "absolutely bullsh*t." Pointing to his résumé, he wrote that four of his last seven fights came against three of the greatest bantamweights of all time, adding: "Ain't ducking no one." On his podcast this week, O'Malley went further, saying he swears on his family he was never offered Talbott and suggesting the 28-year-old "made it up." But he left the door open: if Dvalishvili dethrones Yan in their trilogy bout at UFC 333 on October 24, O'Malley will fight Talbott next. If Yan retains, O'Malley wants the champion instead — a rematch with the man he has already beaten once. O'Malley (20-3) is riding back-to-back wins after stopping Aiemann Zahabi at the White House in June. Talbott (12-1) has won three straight and is knocking on the top ten.