UFC 323 results: Payton Talbott retires Henry Cejudo with punishing performance to win unanimous decision

Payton Talbott picked up the biggest win of his career while sending Henry Cejudo into retirement following a punishing performance at UFC 323.

While Cejudo showed incredible toughness and durability, Talbott was just too much on the feet and on the ground as he blasted the former two-division champion and the damage was just too much to overcome. The final scorecards all read 30-27 as Talbott gets the win and takes another step forward in the bantamweight division.

“I’m young and I’m only going to keep getting better,” Talbott said afterwards. “Henry, I respect the guy so much. The least I can do is learn from these legends and then pay it forward. I’m just going to keep making those improvements.”

As for Cejudo, he officially retired after engaging in a three-round war with Talbott. He went to the cage just after the fight ended and told UFC CEO Dana White “it’s time, that just showed it.”

“Payton’s the future,” Cejudo said following his final fight. “I want to keep mentoring him. This put a good stamp on the end.”

A few leg kicks from Cejudo led to a straight punch down the middle from Talbott as he exploited his significant reach advantage. Cejudo continued attacking the legs before diving for his first takedown but it was defended well by Talbott.

Cejudo continued pressing forward but Talbott was displaying some quick, powerful hands in response. A split second later, Talbott leaned into a slick inside trip that actually brought Cejudo down to the canvas.

Cejudo eventually scrambled free but Talbott snatched a double leg takedown and brought the Olympic champion crashing to the canvas again.

Back on the feet at the start of round two, Talbott snapped off a punch that rattled Cejudo badly but he wasn’t able to take advantage. Instead, Cejudo scrambled his way to a takedown to put Talbott on his back while operating from half-guard.

Talbott eventually got back to his feet again and he unloaded with a barrage of punches and a knee right up the middle that blasted Cejudo. Undeterred, Cejudo fired right back at him but Talbott continued the assault and he was doing far more damage.

As the fighters headed back to the corner, Cejudo had a gruesome cut over his right eye with significant swelling also forming under the eye. With urging from his coaches to leave it all out there, Cejudo started the final round with guns blazing but Talbott was ready for the challenge.

Talbott’s length allowed him to consistently pop Cejudo with straight punches while also punishing the body with knees on the inside. Cejudo refused to go away but Talbott was dishing out a lot of damage at every turn.

A late body shot had Cejudo hurt again but Talbott ended up back in the clinch as time ticked away to the final horn. It was a statement performance from Talbott against an all-time legend in Cejudo as a new contender emerges at 135 pounds.

Talbott is now 5-1 in the UFC with another impressive win added to his resume, this time over a future Hall of Famer in Cejudo.

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