Payton Talbott Turned Lima’s Takedowns Into His Own
Payton Talbott defeated Felipe Lima by unanimous decision at UFC 317 on June 28, 2025. Every judge scored the bantamweight contest 29–28 after Talbott combined improved counter-wrestling with stronger late striking at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
An early reversal showed the defensive response
Lima connected with sharp punches as Talbott moved forward, then attacked a leg to initiate a takedown. Talbott rolled through the exchange and emerged on top.
He delivered elbows before Lima scrambled free. The sequence demonstrated that Lima’s wrestling entries would not necessarily produce the control he wanted, even when he reached the legs.
More reversals shifted the momentum
Lima began the second with another combination, then returned to grappling. Talbott again found top position, landed a strong punch and eventually stood to resume the striking exchanges.
A further reversal allowed Talbott to add another elbow. He also connected with straight punches as his pressure increasingly forced Lima to respond.
The final round completed a successful rebound
Lima’s corner encouraged him to trust his striking before the third. He continued mixing attacks, but Talbott recovered quickly from another takedown and delivered further offense as time expired.
The decision restored Talbott to winning form after the first loss of his professional career. His response came through a broader performance than striking alone: scrambles, positional recoveries and ground attacks repeatedly disrupted Lima’s attempts to change the fight’s direction.
Sources
- UFC: June 28 Las Vegas venue and official results
- MMA Fighting: takedown reversals, elbows, straight punches and rebound context
- UFC: competitive opening and Talbott’s stronger closing rounds
