
THE APEX TIMES
Report: Payton Talbott vs. Deiveson Figueiredo targeted for UFC 332 in Salt Lake City
A UFC 332 matchup reportedly in the works would match bantamweight prospect Payton Talbott with former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo inside the Delta Center on Oct. 3, 2026.
Ultimate Fighting Championship matchmaking is reportedly zeroing in on a headline bantamweight fight for UFC 332 in Salt Lake City. According to Yahoo Sports, Payton Talbott is being targeted to face former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, with the bout discussed for UFC 332 at the Delta Center on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.
The reported pairing carries appeal for both fighters because it blends a rising, prospect-driven bantamweight storyline with a name that has already defined championship eras at flyweight. Figueiredo, a Brazilian who previously ruled the UFC flyweight division, has remained a major reference point for fans evaluating high-level bantamweight performances. Talbott, meanwhile, has been framed as one of the UFC’s bantamweight prospects, built around the expectation that he can pressure elite opponents and advance toward title contention.
As presented in the report, the fight’s significance is tied to UFC 332 itself, which is positioned as a major card in the promotion’s fall calendar. With the event date and venue already laid out in the report, the matchup becomes the kind of “big swing” UFC normally uses to turn a strong main-card structure into a more marketable, legacy-versus-up-and-comer narrative.
Still, the matchup has not been described as officially finalized in the report. UFC often tests multiple opponent possibilities before confirming a bout, and rumored targets can change based on camp readiness, medical clearances, and negotiating windows. That means the Talbott-Figueiredo concept should be treated as a plan in motion rather than a signed guarantee until UFC or the fighters confirm it.
For Talbott, the hypothetical fight against Figueiredo would be a step that matches competitive style against a decorated former champion. A bantamweight prospect drawing a former UFC titleholder also indicates that the division is looking for clarity on who can separate from the pack as the promotion maps out its next title path. For Figueiredo, it would be another chance to reassert relevance beyond flyweight, showing whether championship-level experience translates when the weight classes shift.
UFC 332 will likely become a key point of attention for bantamweight direction once the promotion clarifies the final order of fights. If Talbott-Figueiredo is officially confirmed, expect the conversation to narrow quickly to what the result implies for future bantamweight matchmaking and whether UFC views Talbott as a credible next-challenge candidate. For now, the main thing to watch is confirmation from UFC channels or the fighters themselves.
Why It Matters
- If confirmed, the fight would create a high-visibility “prospect vs. former champion” storyline for the UFC’s bantamweight picture.
- A Talbott win over a decorated champion would strengthen the case for his trajectory toward future title contention.
- A Figueiredo performance in a new division context could influence how UFC values legacy contenders outside their original weight class.
Key Facts
- Yahoo Sports reported that Payton Talbott is being targeted to face Deiveson Figueiredo for UFC 332.
- The reported event date is Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, and the venue is the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
- The matchup is described as a bantamweight fight involving a former flyweight champion, Deiveson Figueiredo.
- The report frames the bout as in the works, not as fully finalized.