- Rising Bantamweight Talent Talbott Secures First-Round TKO Victory Over Brazilian MMA Icon, Earns $25,000 Finish Bonus
- 30-Year-Old Esteban Ribovics from Argentina Stops King Green in Round 1
- 34-Year-Old Johnny Walker from Brazil Earns First-Round KO Victory over Mick Parkin in Heavyweight Division Debut, Receives $100,000 Performance of the Night Bonus
SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Big night in SLC! Monster Energy congratulates MMA athlete Payton Talbott on defeating Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday night. In the Co-Main Event fight contested in the bantamweight division, the 28-year-old from Reno, Nevada, earned a thundering first-round TKO victory over the former UFC world champion. Talbot also received a $25,000 Finish Bonus for his stoppage victory.
Also on the Main Card, 30-year-old Esteban Ribovics from Tartagal, Argentina, stopped his Monster Energy teammate, 40-year-old Bobby “King” Green from San Bernardino, California, via TKO in the first round of their catchweight matchup. In the night’s Early Prelims, 34-year-old Johnny Walker from Rio Branco, Brazil, earned a dominant first-round KO victory over Mick Parkin in his heavyweight division debut. Walker also took home a $100,000 Performance of the Night Bonus for the brutal finish.
UFC 332: Silva vs. Wang was contested in front of a live crowd inside Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Featuring a total of five bouts on the Main Card and nine Prelims matchups, UFC 332 was broadcast live on Paramount+.
In Saturday night’s Co-Main Event fight, Monster Energy’s Talbott (12-1), came to Salt Lake City looking to score the biggest career win of his young UFC tenure. Talbott was riding a two-win streak after most recently defeating former two-division champion Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision at UFC 323 in December 2025.
Talbott’s opponent, Brazilian MMA icon Figueiredo (25-8-1), stepped into the Octagon to get back in the victory column after most recently suffering a submission loss against Song Yadong at a UFC Fight Night in May 2026. Now the former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion presented the biggest challenge to date for rising prospect Talbott.
Talbott started the fight in attack mode, pursuing the Brazilian and finding openings for heavy shots that landed. In a flurry of punches, Talbott landed a straight right hand that sent Figueiredo to the mat, although he immediately recovered. But it was a losing battle…
In another key scene, Talbott took Figueiredo down with a knee to the head, but the Brazilian survived by engaging in a body lock to slow the pace. Then it was all over as Talbott broke from the clinch to overwhelm Figueiredo again with one-two combos and punches from above until the Brazilian was left defenseless. At 2:09 of Round 1, referee Jason Herzog stopped the contest, pronouncing Talbott as the winner by TKO.
“Extremely happy,” said Monster Energy’s Talbott after securing the TKO win at UFC 332, adding: “I just mopped the floor with two champions back-to-back. And I want another one! Sean O’Malley, you can’t run forever! Give the people what they want.” Stay tuned for more from Talbott!
Earlier on the Main Card, two Monster Energy teammates faced off in a highly anticipated matchup. Argentinian knockout artist Ribovics (17-3) was riding high off a devastating second-round TKO victory over UFC veteran Edson Barboza at UFC 330 in August 2026. Nicknamed “El Gringo,” the Argentinian lightweight arrived at UFC 332 looking to climb into the lightweight top 15 with another signature performance.
Ribovics faced fellow Monster Energy athlete and lightweight division veteran Green (36-18-1), currently on a four-fight victory streak. Most recently, “King Green” earned a Performance of the Night bonus for a buzzer-beating first-round stoppage of Terrance McKinney at UFC 329 in July. The fight between Green and Ribovics had to be contested at catchweight after Ribovics missed weight at the ceremonial weigh-ins, adding to the pre-fight anticipation.
The fight opened at a fast pace as both fighters clashed in the middle of the Octagon, trading low kicks. Ribovics fired off quick combos and stung Green with a precise left hand early in the round. Setting the tempo, Ribovics kept the pressure on and landed a knee to the body before Green slowed the action by initiating a clinch.
With Green staying loose and attacking from a distance, Ribovics shot forward but absorbed a right jab to the face. The fight then unraveled as Ribovics dropped Green with a heavy left hook. Although Green recovered to his feet, Ribovics instantly kept raining combos and once again floored Green with another harsh left.
Although Green came back to his feet, Ribovics connected with another left that sent his opponent to the canvas a third time within moments. Having seen enough, referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the fight at 4:08 of Round 1 with Ribovics as the winner by TKO.
“I love you, SLC. Sorry I missed weight! I don’t want to be the guy. Next time I’m going to be more professional,” said Monster Energy’s Ribovics upon winning at UFC 332. “I train hard every day to bring violence to the Octagon.”
Speaking of violence, there was one more first-round finish for the team at UFC 332. In the Early Prelims, Monster Energy’s Walker (23-10) came to Salt Lake City making his official heavyweight debut after a decorated career in the Light Heavyweight division. Walker earned a reputation as one of the UFC’s most exciting knockout artists at 205 pounds and was looking for a fresh start after losing his last Light Heavyweight bout to Dominick Reyes at UFC 327 in April.
Walker’s opponent, Mick Parkin (10-2), stepped into the Octagon as one of the UFC’s most promising heavyweight prospects. The British grappling expert came to UFC 332 looking for redemption after suffering his first career loss in his most recent fight against Marcin Tybura at UFC London in March 2025. But he had to get past Walker to make it happen!
The heavyweight showdown opened with Walker setting the tone from the opening bell, pressing the action with his signature striking and heavy hands. Then it was over really quickly! As Parkin closed the distance and engaged Walker in a clinch, the Brazilian asserted his dominance with a fast elbow followed by two consecutive knees that sent the British prospect crashing to the canvas. Game over! With Parkin unable to recover, the referee stepped in to end the fight at 3:35 of the opening round, awarding Walker the KO victory in his heavyweight debut.
“I don’t think there’s any heavyweight that can fight like me,” said Monster Energy’s Walker after his win at UFC 332.
Back in the winner’s circle, Walker just made a resounding statement about his future in the Heavyweight division, where his signature knockout power makes him an immediate threat. Stay tuned!
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Monster Energy’s elite UFC athletes include Alex Pereira, Dricus Du Plessis, Merab Dvalishvili, Valentina Shevchenko, Weili Zhang, Marlon Vera, Justin Gaethje, Brandon Moreno, Johnny Walker, Sean Strickland, Dan Ige, Diego Lopes, Daniel Zellhuber, Derrick Lewis, Alexa Grasso, Raul Rosas Jr., Tatsuro Taira, Shara Magomedov, Maycee Barber, Aaron Pico, Jasmine Jasudavicius, Kayla Harrison, Malcolm Wellmaker, Mansur Abdul-Malik, Manuel Torres, Joshua Van, Reinier de Ridder, Alessandro Costa, Esteban Ribovics, Youssef Zalal, Jiri Prochazka, Manel Kape, Payton Talbott, Jalin Turner, Mackenzie Dern, Mikey Musumeci, Tommy McMillen, and Bobby Green.
For more on Monster Energy’s MMA athletes, visit www.monsterenergy.com. Follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok. For interview or photo requests, contact Kim Dresser.
About Monster Energy
Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock-and-roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by athletes, bands, believers, and fans. See more about Monster Energy, including all of its drinks, at www.monsterenergy.com.
CONTACT: Kim Dresser C: (949) 300-5546 E: kim.dresser@indiepragency.com
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