Payton Talbott’s Tattoo: What Does the UFC Rising Star’s Unique Ink Mean?

Just two fights into his UFC stint, Payton Talbott is already being counted among the most exciting and hyped prospects in the UFC. Along with his exciting, fluid striking prowess, reminiscent of a prime Conor McGregor or Sean O’Malley, the Dana White’s Contender Series alum brings a uniquely zany personality to the table.

Fans are taken especially with his quirky, very Gen Z sense of humor, which is apparent from his social media and YouTube handles. Some even see shades of Israel Adesanya in the undefeated fighter because of his proclivity for anime and Japanese culture, and his excellent stand-up game. In this article, we take a look at the tattoos and their significance and how they are inspired by his love for anime.

What do Payton Talbott’s tattoos mean?

A clear indication that Payton Talbott is an anime fan is the most prominent tattoo on his body. The Las Vegas native has a simple hole filled in with black ink at the center of his torso. Speaking about the meaning of his tattoo, the UFC fighter revealed, “It’s just a hole that goes through my body. It represents an internal void, emptiness, lack of emotion.”

The tattoo is most probably inspired by the popular anime ‘Bleach’s character ‘Grimmjow’. The latter has the same void tattoo on the same part of his body. In addition, the 25-year-old has another tattoo, which is inspired by Japanese folklore.

The other tattoo on his body is a traditional Japanese ‘Hannya’ mask, done in all black, complete with pointed horns and fangs. These masks, of course, are seen as an embodiment of jealous female spirits in traditional Japanese culture, but are also considered symbols of good luck and a talisman against negativity and evil spirits.

What is Payton Talbott’s dream fight?

Payton Talbott is one of the most promising rising stars in the UFC’s 135-pound bantamweight division. And he is already angling to fight reigning champ Sean O’Malley. The Las Vegas native has repeatedly stated that a clash with the striking dynamo would be his “dream matchup” because of the electric stylistic matchup that O’Malley, with his historically great striking, brings to the table.

“I see it as my dream matchup, so I’m all for it and I hope when the time comes, we’re fighting for the belt. Whenever it is, I just hope I get to fight him when the time is right and we give the fans what they want,” he said in a recent interview.

Talbott, of course, has already earned a ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus in already his second UFC fight earlier this year. The up-and-coming star defeated another promising prospect, Cameron Saaiman, spectacularly with a second-round knockout to announce his arrival at MMA’s biggest stage in style and earn the $50k bonus.

Do you think Talbott can record another win at UFC 303 against Yanis Ghemmouri? Drop your predictions in the comments below.