UFC 323 results: Payton Talbott earns win over retiring Henry Cejudo in thriller
LAS VEGAS – Payton Talbott and Henry Cejudo are the real deal. Talbott has improved remarkably since his loss to Raoni Barcelos in January, defeating the two-time Olympic gold medalist wrestler at UFC 323 on Saturday in Las Vegas. The unarmed and oversized Cejudo never relented in his last MMA fight, but still couldn’t reach the young Talbott’s scorecards.
Saturday’s top card fighters delivered an exciting fight that won’t soon be forgotten. Cejudo, bloodied and battered, fought under a crimson mask, refusing to retire quietly. The second round was particularly memorable, with Cejudo surviving an offensive attack by fighting back with pit bull-like viciousness.
The size disparity between Talbott and Cejudo was evident. Talbott, 11 years his opponent’s junior, dominated the former two-division champion. He exploited that reach and power to hurt Cejudo in every round. Talbott pointed to the center, Max Holloway-style, several times during the third round. Cejudo accepted the invitation every time.
Talbott’s wrestling was arguably more impressive than his flashy striking. In January, Barcelos handed Talbott his first loss after eight takedowns. Fast forward to December, and Talbott not only fended off Cejudo’s takedowns, but he also knocked out the Olympian twice.
Cejudo is retiring for the second time after his previous retirement in 2023. The rematch of his career was unsuccessful, as Cejudo went 0-4. However, his legacy was solidified well before Saturday. Cejudo became a two-division UFC champion by defeating a legend in Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and bantamweight greats TJ Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz. In his last appearance, Cejudo refused to go down without a fight.
This victory is by far the greatest of Talbott’s career. Next week, he’ll likely be ranked in the official UFC bantamweight Top 10, usurping Cejudo’s spot. Plus, he completely beat a surefire Hall of Famer on a pay-per-view main card. The future looks bright for one of the promotion’s most promising young prospects.
