Why Aiemann Zahabi doesnt see himself as Payton Talbotts next fight

Aiemann Zahabi thinks Payton Talbott has a big fight in store next, perhaps even against Sean O'Malley.

Talbott (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) targeted former UFC bantamweight champion O'Malley following his first-round TKO of Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 332 this past Saturday. O'Malley (20-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) is coming off a knockout win over Zahabi at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House in June, but is currently focused on regaining the belt.

The trajectory 135-pound weight class will be determined at UFC 333 on Oct. 24 when champion Petr Yan meets Merab Dvalishvili in a trilogy bout at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Ranked contender Zahabi thinks Talbott is in an excellent position no matter what happens with the belt.

"I don't know if he'll get that fight if Petr Yan wins," Zahabi told MMA Junkie. "I think if Merab wins, he might get that fight because I don't think they're going to do O'Malley vs. Merab 3. But Petr Yan vs. Sean O'Malley is happening if Petr Yan wins.

"If he gets the O'Malley fight, great. That's a crazy fight lots of fireworks in that fight. If Petr Yan wins and Sean O'Malley gets the title shot, Payton could fight Merab. Why wouldn't he fight Merab? If he's in the mix now with those guys, if the UFC considers him to be in the mix with those guys now, why wouldn't that be a good fight? That would be a huge fight, too. Merab is a mega-star. He's in such a good spot there's no losing if he gets any of those three times."

One fight Zahabi (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) doesn't see on Talbott's radar is with himself. Although he would be happy to take it, he understands the politics of the fight game. Zahabi is a few months removed from the stoppage loss to O'Malley, so he can't see a world right now where UFC looks at that matchup.

"I don't think they want to give him to me now," Zahabi said. "He's blowing up for them. I think where they're going to go with him is either going to be Merab, if Petr Yan wins, or they're going to go O'Malley. You have to look at it from the UFC's value. What does the UFC think is the most valuable thing we can do with this guy? I feel like that's where they're going to go with him. … The guy is doing a good job. I think he's going to get something above me. I assume he's going to get something above me."

To hear more from Zahabi, check out his complete appearance on "The Bohnfire" podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Why Aiemann Zahabi doesn't see himself as Payton Talbott's next fight