Payton Talbott’s hype prepare suffered a significant blow earlier this yr when Raoni Barcelos dominated the bantamweight prospect en path to a call win at UFC 311, and now Felipe Lima goals to derail it altogether after they meet Saturday at UFC 317.
Barcelos and Talbott open the principle card at T-Cell Area in Las Vegas, giving the skilled Brazilian an opportunity to go 3-0 within the group over a highly-touted expertise.
“Talbott likes to strike, he likes to place strain on the opponent,” Lima advised MMA Combating. “He’s failed on the bottom [against Barcelos] however I believe he’s a great fighter with nice hanging. However there are a lot of holes in his recreation. I do know what he’ll attempt to do. He thinks all I would like is to take him down and maintain him there, however he’s useless mistaken. He’ll attempt to strain me, however I’ll press him again. It’s going to be an incredible struggle for the followers. And I’m glad they moved it to the principle card.”
Lima choked out Muhammad Naimov in his UFC debut in Saudi Arabia after which defeated Miles Johns through determination in Tampa, a match he took on quick discover regardless of battling well being points. He lastly returns to his authentic weight class to face Talbott, and vows to be much more dominant at bantamweight.
“I’m means quicker at 135,” Lima stated. “That is my division. I’m heavier and slower at 145, that’s not my weight class. I’m glad to be again to my division, and I can’t wait [for UFC 317].”
A former Oktagon champion primarily based in Sweden, Lima stated the unique plan for UFC 317 was a conflict with Jonathan Martinez, however he was in want for a brand new opponent being knowledgeable Martinez fractured his orbital bone in coaching. Two weeks glided by with nobody accepting to step in, Lima stated, and that’s when he was paired up in opposition to Talbott.
“I used to be getting annoyed as a result of I used to be coaching, I used to be on a food regimen and able to go, and I feared that I wouldn’t struggle at UFC 317,” Lima stated. “I don’t know what to assume when others don’t need to struggle me. I believe it’s the danger of combating somebody unranked. I don’t know the way the negotiations went, however combating at UFC 317 is a chance you shouldn’t miss. after they known as me I stated sure, whatever the opponent. I’ll by no means select fights.”
Unbeaten since dropping his MMA debut in his native Amazonas again in 2015 and using a 14-fight profitable streak over almost a decade together with a 50 % end fee, Lima predicts he stops Talbott “within the second spherical, or late within the third.”
“It’s an incredible alternative to struggle him as a result of he has all this hype behind him, many followers,” Lima stated. “It’s a great identify to beat and put my identify for folks on the market within the UFC to see, you realize? The UFC was already trying to put me in opposition to ranked fighters as a result of they have been having a tough time discovering a standard opponent, purpose why they went for Jonathan Martinez. Profitable this struggle takes me to a different degree, and I’m positive it should put me subsequent in opposition to a high 10.”
