O'Malley flatly denies UFC offered Talbott bout at White House event

Sean O’Malley has flatly denied that the UFC ever offered him a fight against Payton Talbott for UFC Freedom 250, the promotion’s planned White House event in June — directly contradicting claims made by Talbott in the build-up to UFC 332.

Talbott (12-1) stated ahead of UFC 332 that he was in active talks for a potential bout against O’Malley (20-3-1) at the historic Washington D.C. card. O’Malley, speaking after Talbott reiterated the claim at the UFC 332 post-fight press conference following his first-round stoppage of Deiveson Figueiredo, took to social media to shut it down.

“I’m here to fcking address these rumors that I got offered Payton Talbott for the White House,” O’Malley said. “That is just absolutely bullsht.”

O’Malley also rejected any suggestion that he has been avoiding the unbeaten bantamweight contender, pointing to the calibre of opponents he has faced in recent years.

“4 out of the last 7 fights have been against three of the greatest bantamweights of all time,” O’Malley wrote on his Instagram story. “Ain’t ducking no one.”

The former UFC bantamweight champion has since indicated that his next move hinges on the outcome of the division’s upcoming title fight. Petr Yan — whom O’Malley defeated to claim the belt — is set to defend the championship in a trilogy bout against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333 on October 24. Dvalishvili has beaten O’Malley twice.

O’Malley says a Yan victory would put him next in line for a title shot. However, should Dvalishvili retain, he is open to taking the Talbott fight as his route back toward the belt.