In a recent interview with renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, rising UFC star Payton Talbott opened up about his unconventional approach to fitness – pole dancing. Talbott, who is undefeated in his professional MMA career, has been making waves not only in the octagon but also in the world of alternative fitness.
Talbott, who defeated fellow prospect Yanis Ghemmouri (12-3) at UFC 303 on June 29th in Las Vegas, revealed that he incorporates pole dancing into his training regimen when healthy. “I do pole dancing on and off when I’m healthy,” Talbott stated. “It’s pretty hard to do that within a camp because your body is super tired. But I do that as well as like, gymnastics type stuff.”
This unique approach to fitness has caught the attention of MMA fans, who may not have expected a dominant martial artist like Talbott to engage in such an unconventional activity. However, the 25-year-old is unfazed by the reactions, stating, “It’s just funny to me. I don’t really like a lot of the MMA fan base. And I don’t do that things out of spite for people, but I think it’s hard for people when they see somebody that they can’t box in to their own parameters that they’re used to.”
Talbott’s Mother’s Day celebration, which went viral on social media, provided a glimpse into his family’s embrace of pole dancing. In the video, Talbott and his siblings showcased their impressive athleticism and moves on the pole, with his sister Celeste standing out for her flawless performance.
The UFC rising star acknowledges that the MMA fan base may have a hard time characterizing him, saying, “A lot of times that’s like gay. Like he’s a gay dude or he’s zesty or he’s this or he’s that. And I just think people have a really hard time characterizing me into this like identity of a fighter. But I’m trying, hopefully maybe someday that changes what the expectations are of a fighter. We’re not just like mules that go out there and beat the shit out of each other. We’re actual people with hobbies.”
