Who is Payton Talbott
Payton Talbott is an American professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC.
He was born on September 9, 1998, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., and grew up in Reno, Nevada.
He trained at Reno Academy of Combat.
Weight Class & Physical Stats
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Weight Class: Bantamweight — 135 lb (approx. 61 kg) according to his official UFC profile.
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Height: 5 ft 10 in (≈ 1.78 m)
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Reach: 70.5 in
Notably, after his weigh-in before UFC 303, he revealed that he gained more than 25 pounds back — reportedly weighing around 161 lb with clothes on.
Record & Career Highlights
As of mid-2025, Talbott’s professional MMA record stands at 10-1-0 (10 wins, 1 loss, 0 draws) according to his UFC profile.
Breakdown of wins:
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7 by KO / TKO
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1 by submission
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2 by decision
Recent notable bouts:
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June 28, 2025 (UFC 317): Defeated Felipe Lima by unanimous decision.
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Earlier loss: In January 2025, he lost to Raoni Barcelos by unanimous decision — his first professional loss.
Before UFC: He competed as an amateur for KOTC and won twice as KOTC Amateur Bantamweight Champion, finishing his amateur career undefeated (5-0) with a 100% finish rate.
Is He Gay? What About Sexuality & Identity
Whether Payton Talbott is gay — or how he identifies — is not definitively confirmed. Here’s what is publicly known & said:
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Talbott has received a lot of scrutiny and speculation because of his style, fashion, and behavior (e.g. painting his nails, wearing crop tops, pole dancing), which some fans associate with non-traditional masculinity.
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In an interview, he responded to questions about his sexuality with:
“Who I’m trying to have sx with is none of your business, unless I’m trying to have sx with you.”
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He has refused to label himself explicitly, and has emphasized that his image and style choices should not define him or his fighting identity.
So — while many fans and media outlets speculate about his sexuality (some using terms such as bisexual or gay), Talbott hasn’t publicly confirmed any label.
Dating Rumors & Who He’s Seen With
A lot of attention surrounds rumors that Talbott might be involved with Frank Ocean. The speculation started around mid-2024 and has continued ever since.
Key points around those rumors:
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The rumours gained traction when Frank Ocean and Talbott posted about each other on social media — including a Valentine’s Day story in 2025.
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They were seen spending time together socially (e.g. lunch date), which intensified fan discussion about a possible romantic relationship.
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Talbott himself addressed these rumours after a fight in 2025, calling Ocean “a very special person,” but described him as a friend.
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In the same interview, he refused to confirm any romantic involvement or claim a label regarding sexuality.
Bottom line: There is no verified or confirmed public information proving that Talbott is dating Frank Ocean (or anyone else). The relationship remains speculative, and Talbott prefers to keep his personal life private.
Why Payton Talbott Matters — Beyond the Cage
Talbott stands out not just for his skills and record, but also for challenging stereotypes in MMA — a sport stereotypically associated with hyper-masculinity.
He has said that he refuses to conform to what some expect a fighter to be. Style, identity, and self-expression matter to him — and he doesn’t believe those should be at odds with being a competitor.
Whether or not you interpret his public persona or rumors about his dating life in a certain way — Talbott exemplifies that fighters can be more than just what they do in the octagon.
