In his promotional debut in November against Nick Aguirre, Talbott, who earned his spot on the roster with a unanimous decision victory over Reyes Cortez three months earlier on Season 7 of Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS), methodically broke the Illinois man, happy to take him to the third round, knowing he was slowly breaking him. Less than a minute into the final frame, Talbott latched onto a rear-naked choke, collecting the tap and the first win of his UFC career.
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It was a dominant effort from start to finish, highlighted by how calm and collected Talbott looked at all times inside the cage. There were no “first fight nerves” – at least none that were visible – and he worked with the composure of someone who had been there many times in the past. Skills can be taught and developed, but it’s these types of intangibles that make Talbott such an intriguing talent heading into his sophomore outing.
On Saturday night, he takes a solid step up in competition when he takes on Cameron Saaiman, the 23-year-old South African who graduated from the Contender Series a few years ago and has already racked up three wins in four trips to the Octagon.
Getting rid of a young, complete and dangerous foe like Saaiman would be a sharp feather in Talbott’s cap going forward, and would signal that he is another name to add to the list of promising young talents to watch over the next few years. years. the UFC roster. The glimmers of serious upside potential are there, so it would be wise to start paying a little more attention to it now, just in case it becomes a strength in the future.
Kurt Holobaugh
