Payton Talbott`s momentum took a significant hit earlier this year when Raoni Barcelos convincingly won a decision against the rising bantamweight at UFC 311. Now, Felipe Lima intends to halt that momentum completely when he faces Talbott this Saturday at UFC 317.
Lima and Talbott are set to open the main card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This matchup presents an opportunity for the experienced Brazilian, Felipe Lima, to make a significant statement against the highly-regarded prospect.
Felipe Lima shared his thoughts on his upcoming opponent. “Talbott prefers to strike and pressure his adversaries,” Lima stated. “He encountered difficulties on the ground [in his fight against Barcelos], but I believe he is a skilled striker. However, I see numerous weaknesses in his approach. I have a clear idea of his strategy. He seems to think my sole intention is to take him down and control him, but that`s incorrect. He might attempt to pressure me, but I plan to reciprocate. This fight promises to be exciting for the audience. I`m also pleased it was moved to the main card.”
Recapping his recent performances, Lima secured a submission victory over Muhammad Naimov in his UFC debut in Saudi Arabia, followed by a decision win against Miles Johns in Tampa. The fight against Johns was taken on short notice while Lima was dealing with health problems. He is now returning to his natural weight class to face Talbott and is confident he will perform even better at bantamweight.
Lima explained his comfort at the bantamweight limit: “I am significantly faster at 135 pounds,” he commented. “This division suits me. At 145, I feel heavier and slower; that`s not my weight class. I`m glad to be back in my division and eagerly anticipate UFC 317.”
Lima, a former Oktagon champion training out of Sweden, revealed his initial opponent for UFC 317 was intended to be Jonathan Martinez. However, Martinez suffered a fractured orbital bone during training, requiring a new opponent for Lima. According to Lima, two weeks passed with no fighters agreeing to step in before he was eventually matched with Talbott.
Lima expressed his concern during the period of searching for an opponent. “It was frustrating because I was actively training, maintaining my diet, and felt prepared, and I was worried about not getting to compete at UFC 317,” he said. “I`m uncertain why other fighters might be hesitant to face me. Perhaps it`s the perceived risk of competing against an unranked fighter. I`m not privy to the negotiation details, but participating at UFC 317 is an opportunity you shouldn`t pass up. When I received the call, I immediately accepted, without considering who the opponent was. I never intend to pick and choose my fights.”
Since losing his professional MMA debut in Amazonas in 2015, Lima has remained undefeated, building a 14-fight winning streak spanning almost a decade with a 50% finish rate. Based on this form, Lima predicts he will stop Talbott, stating it will happen “in the second round, or late in the third.”
Lima views the fight against Talbott as a significant chance. “Facing him is a fantastic opportunity due to the considerable hype and large following he has,” Lima commented. “Defeating a recognizable name like his is valuable for raising my profile within the UFC. The organization was already considering matching me with ranked opponents because finding regular opponents was difficult, which is why Jonathan Martinez was initially proposed. A victory here will elevate me to the next level, and I am confident it will lead to a matchup against a top 10 fighter next.”
