Payton Talbott, an undefeated bantamweight prospect, is set to face veteran Raoni Barcelos at UFC 311 on January 18, 2025, in a significant test to maintain his perfect record.
Payton Talbott is gearing up for a significant challenge in his next bout, aiming to maintain his flawless record.
This promising bantamweight prospect will square off against seasoned fighter Raoni Barcelos, who boasts 23 fights under his belt. This clash is set for UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2025 on January 18, as confirmed by multiple insiders to MMA Fighting.
Rumors suggest UFC 311 might be held in Los Angeles, though the official venue remains unannounced.
Talbott, with an impressive 9-0 record accumulated over three years, has already made waves in the 135-pound division. His journey includes three UFC victories, highlighted by consecutive bonus-winning stoppages against Cameron Saaiman and Yanis Ghemmouri in 2024. Quite the feat!
As for Barcelos (18-5), he recently submitted Cristian Quinonez in February, bouncing back from losses to Umar Nurmagomedov and Kyler Phillips. A former RFA champ, he holds a UFC tally of 7-4, including three finishes. Not too shabby!
UFC 311 also showcases a lineup of Brazilian fighters: Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac in heavyweight action, Johnny Walker taking on Bogdan Guskov at light heavyweight, and Karol Rosa battling the up-and-coming bantamweight Ailin Perez. Exciting matchups ahead!
Mike Heck contributed to this report.