Despite his impressive performance at UFC 303, Peyton Talbot didn't get the VIP treatment that many were expecting.
UFC rising star Peyton Talbot knocks out opponent in 20 seconds at UFC 303
As Talbot revealed on The MMA Hour on July 1, he was immediately escorted out of T-Mobile Arena after the fight and was denied re-entry.
“no [I didn’t watch the main event] “They kicked me out!” Payton yelled. “They're like, 'Do you have a ticket?' And I'm like, 'I just got in a fight,' and they're like, 'No exceptions.' … So they wouldn't let me back in.”
In the past, UFC would invite fighters into a VIP room to dine and watch the action. Talbot explained that this is no longer the case, and fighters were not given a chance to shower before being whisked away outside.
“… They lost it with COVID… As soon as you’re done with the media, you’re out. [I didn’t get to shower]… Nah, I didn't even know there were showers… I went back to the Airbnb and streamed the rest of the game, then went to see Cascade. [a DJ]”
Fans may remember a similar incident involving light heavyweight fighter Johnny Walker at UFC 279. Walker was escorted out of T-Mobile Arena after his first-round submission win over Ion Cutelaba and was photographed wandering around Las Vegas in his fighting gear.
— Coach JK (@John_Kavanagh) September 11, 2022
“So then UFC came and kicked us out. We didn't get tickets, we weren't allowed backstage, they walked us out the back door and kicked us out with no shoes on.” – Coach John Kavanagh on Walker's ejection
UFC 303 news: Peyton Talbot burns down champion Sean O'Malley and top bantamweight contenders
Whether this is standard UFC practice or something specific to T-Mobile Arena, it is still reprehensible that under any circumstances fighters were not allowed to rest, change or shower before leaving the ring.
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