UFC 332 delivered on all cylinders, with the card producing a whopping 11 knockouts on the night, including a record nine in the first round. However, perhaps the most impressive finish came in the co-main event, where Payton Talbott stopped Deiveson Figueiredo just 2:09 into the opening round.
The 28-year-old looked almost untouchable as he made quick work of the former two-time flyweight champion. Talbott also made the most of the spotlight after the win, immediately calling out Sean O’Malley for his next fight.
During his post-fight interview, he said, “I just mopped the floor with two champions back-to-back, and I want another one. Sean O’Malley. You can’t run forever. Give the people what they want!”
Talbott previously claimed that O’Malley had even ducked him for UFC Freedom 250, something the former champion quickly dismissed. And now, following Talbott’s impressive performance in Salt Lake City, O’Malley has once again fired back.
Sean O’Malley Has Faced the Likes of Merab Dvalishvili, Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling in His Last 7 UFC Fights
O’Malley wasn’t going to let Talbott’s comments slide. He took to his Instagram story and shared a screenshot of the last seven opponents he has faced, dating back to October 2022. He wrote alongside it, “4 out of last 7 fights have been against 3 of the greatest bantamweights of all time. Ain’t duckin no one.”
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And O’Malley certainly has a point when it comes to his recent competition. Since entering the main-event picture, the former champion has consistently faced some of the best fighters in the bantamweight division.
Four of his last seven fights have come against Petr Yan, Merab Dvalishvili twice, and Aljamain Sterling. All four are regarded as elite 135-pound competition, with Yan, Dvalishvili and Sterling among the most accomplished bantamweights of any era.
O’Malley first faced Yan at UFC 280 in October 2022. “Suga” picked up a split-decision victory in a highly competitive three-round fight. Yan used his wrestling and grappling to put pressure on O’Malley, while the American landed several clean and damaging strikes.
The decision was heavily debated by fans and analysts, but the victory established O’Malley as a legitimate contender and ultimately earned him a shot at the title.
He then faced Sterling at UFC 292 in August 2023. This time, O’Malley left no room for debate, stopping the reigning champion via TKO at 0:51 of Round 2 to capture the bantamweight title. His two fights with Dvalishvili, however, went the other way.
Dvalishvili defeated O’Malley by unanimous decision at UFC 306 in September 2024 to take the bantamweight title. The pair met again at UFC 316 in June 2025, with Dvalishvili winning by submission (ninja choke) at 4:42 of Round 3 to successfully defend his belt.
Even outside those four fights, O’Malley has continued to face quality competition. His other three bouts came against Marlon Vera, Song Yadong and, most recently, Aiemann Zahabi. So while Talbott clearly wants the fight, O’Malley can point to his recent resume as evidence that he hasn’t exactly been avoiding tough opponents.
A matchup between O’Malley and Talbott would certainly be an interesting one, but “Suga” already has his eyes on another goal. The former champion is hoping his recent wins over Yadong and Zahabi will be enough to earn him another shot at the bantamweight title.
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What happens next could also depend on the result of the upcoming trilogy fight between current champion Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333 on October 24.
If Dvalishvili wins, Song Yadong could potentially be next in line, especially since O’Malley has already lost to the Georgian twice. If Yan retains the title, however, O’Malley could have a stronger case for another shot at him, potentially setting up a rematch of their UFC 280 outing.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
