Bantamweight contender Payton Talbott insists that his clash with streamer Adin Ross is no joke — and claims Ross has even put a “bounty” on his head following their bizarre pre-fight exchanges.
Fresh off the biggest win of his career — a brutal stoppage of former double champion Henry Cejudo at UFC 323 — Talbott addressed the ongoing feud during an appearance on The MMA Hour.
The conflict began when Ross invited Talbott onto one of his livestreams. Talbott declined in the most shocking way possible: by sending what he described as a “graphic” photo in reply. What started as awkward humor has now turned into genuine animosity.
“It’s legit,” Talbott said. “He put a bounty on my head… then said he’d sue me. I’m sure he was joking, but that’s kind of the point.”
Talbott criticized Ross and the streaming world in general, saying he wants no part in viral stunt culture.
“He has no ability to do anything himself, so he offers money for someone else to create a viral moment,” Talbott said. “It’s vampiric and leechy.”
Ross initially laughed off the explicit rejection and wished Talbott luck. But after Talbott’s highlight-reel performance on Saturday, the banter turned heated, with Ross reportedly offering a cash reward to anyone who could knock the fighter out.
Talbott sees it as empty posturing:
“Nobody’s trying to knock me out as it is, right?” he joked. “I just don’t want to be part of that world.”
With Talbott rising quickly through the UFC ranks — and Ross eager to stay in the headlines — their feud doesn’t appear close to cooling down.
