Payton Talbott came off second-best in the first round against Nick Aguirre tonight at UFC Fight Night 232, but turned things around from there and gradually broke the will of his opponent on the feet and on the mat, leading to a third round submission finish.
Round One:
Leg kick for Talbott. Agguire quickly in on a takedown and gets Talbott to the mat. Talbott has his back against the cage though and is looking to stand. Aguirre gets him away from the cage though for now and settles into his full guard.
Talbott gets to a hip then to a knee. Aguirre staying heavy on him though. Talbott forces his way upright though as Aguirre fights to get a hook in. He lands a knee. Aguirre tries to hop onto the back but doesn’t quite get it. He goes for it again and this time does get Talbott down and is working for a rear-naked choke the body triangle locked in. He can’t quite get it under the neck though.
Talbott rolls onto his knees. Aguirre is still locked onto his back as he stands up though. Not much time remaining and Aguirre drops off and lands a punch in the final second of the round.
Round Two:
Talbott pressures forward and lands a straight right. He connects with another. Now a good body kick. Aguirre tries for a takedown, but Talbott stuffs it. Aguirre stays down, but the ref stands him back up.
Aguirre pulls guard and Talbott does go down with him. Talbott lands some nice ground-and-pound. Aguirre rolls to his knees. Talbott spins around to his back though.
Aguirre on his back now as Talbott takes half-guard. A few punches for Talbott but then decides it’s safer to just stand back up.
Jab for Aguirre and a kick. Talbott catches it and uses that to send him off-balance to the mat. Aguirre back up and now he’s in on a takedown and lands it. Talbott stands up but Aguirre is locked onto his back. Talbott trying to unbalance him.
Talbott goes to the mat and does manage to get him off his back and end up on top. Aguirre trying to find a way to escape here without success. Final seconds of the round and talbott lands a nice elbow and a couple of solid punches too.
Round Three:
Body punch for Talbott. Jab from Aguirre. Aguirre reaching for a takedown but can’t get in. Punches for Talbott. Aguirre trying for the takedown again and as they go to the mat Talbott does a flip to get away.
Back on the feet. Talbott with a good body kick. Now punches follow and another body kick as Aguirre tries for a takedown. Talbott reverses it on the way down and lands in mount. Aguirre gives up his back and Talbott sinks in the rear-naked choke, forcing his opponent to tapout shortly afterwards at 0.58mins of the third round.
