LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 06: Payton Talbott of the United States looks on before a bantamweight fight at T-Mobile Arena on December 06, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesHes back!Top Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight prospect Payton Talbottfinally returns to action against former Flyweight kingpinDeiveson Figueiredo at UFC 332, which goes down in less than two months on Sat., Oct. 3, 2026, inside Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.Talbott was last in action in Dec. 2025, when he retired former champ-champHenry Cejudo in what was easily the biggest victory of his young career.Then, instead of capitalizing on that breakout performance poof! He vanished.So, where did he go?Ive just been doing me, but Ive been training a lot and doing the same old thingsmusic, travel, Talbott recently told reporters during a media scrum. But, yeah, I just took a step back from sharing. You know, youve got to keep really important things inside of yourself, or else you could potentially lose them. So, yeah, just detoxing for a second.Although Talbott stepped away from the media and public eye, the 27-year-old never wanted to take a break from competing.Ive been waiting for the better part of a year, Talbott said. Ive been spoken to about a bunch of fights, but I guess people have had better plans, or I dont know how it all works. If I dont fight before the end of the year, I dont know what will happen with my sanity.I havent wanted to take a step back from fighting at alljust from sharing things with the media, he continued. But Ive heard fighters have had injuries, dates dont line up. I guess I just got stuck being patient because of the position Im in.Before defeating Cejudo, Talbott told MMAmania.com that he was not worried about struggling to find willing opponents once he entered the rankings.Unfortunately, that concern has now become a reality.Ive always wanted to fight up, but I understand the guys in the Top 10its quite risky if they lose, Talbott said. Most people are going to say no to fighting me, and they dont have much to gain by beating me.But at the same time, there are only so many of us, so what else am I supposed to do? he continued. I wasnt offered anyone below meand I havent said no yetand because of that, I have a loss on my record.That lone defeat came against Raoni Barcelos, whom Talbott accepted despite having little to gain in the rankings. The Brazilian veteran pulled off the massive upset via unanimous decision at UFC 311.Thankfully, Talbott finally has another opponent 10 months after his victory over Cejudoand it is a big one for him.Figueiredo is a former UFC champion and currently sits at No. 11 in the Bantamweight rankings, giving Talbott an opportunity to make up for lost time and officially break into the Top 15.To checkout UFCs upcoming schedule of events click here.