'I don't really like a lot of the MMA fan base': UFC fighter Payton Talbott defends videos of him pole dancing



UFC prospect Payton Talbott answered a series of unusual questions after a stunning victory at UFC 303 and said that he didn't want to be put "in a box" because he enjoys activities like pole dancing.

Talbott improved to 9-0 after knocking out fellow 135-pound fighter Yanis Ghemmouri in just 19 seconds.

Following the win, Talbott was asked many atypical questions in the subsequent press conference and interviews.

During the post-fight press conference, Talbott was asked about his love for skateboarding and how his body has held up.

"What's harder on the body: skateboarding or MMA?" a reporter asked.

"Skateboarding, for sure. Nobody hits harder than concrete. Skateboarding has derailed so many fighters' careers," Talbott replied.

'I just think people have a really hard time characterizing me into this identity of a fighter.'

That was, however, one of the more normal questions Talbott would face after his fight. Two days later, during an interview with Ariel Helwani on "The MMA Hour," Talbott was asked to shed light on some viral videos that fans have been asking about.

Helwani asked about "pole stuff" in reference to videos of Talbott doing "pole dancing" or "pole fitness."

"[Fans] are not sure what to make of it. ... Could I ask, when you see [negative reactions] how does that make you feel?" Helwani asked.

"I don't really like a lot of the MMA fan base, and I don't do [those] things out of spite for people, but I think it's hard for people when they see somebody that they can't box into their own parameters that they're used to," he said about the dancing. "They come up with a word that they feel they can box them into. I think it's really hard for MMA fans to put me in a box, and I hope so, I hope I'm very hard to box in," he told Helwani.

"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," Talbott added. "I just think people have a really hard time characterizing me into this identity of a fighter. Hopefully, maybe some day that changes what the expectations are of a fighter; we're not just mules that go out there and beat the s*** out of each other, we're actually people with hobbies."

Talbott explained that his mother and his sister taught him pole fitness, noting that while they are fitness instructors, they did not want to "devalue" stripping on a pole, either.

The bantamweight was also asked to clarify the claim that there was a video circulating online of him putting a vape pen in his anus.

"Maybe I just live on another planet," Helwani joked. "Can you explain what this is and explain why you felt the need to talk about this?"

Talbott said that the video in question was not actually him, but rather he was the one filming his friend. He claimed that the idea for the video was to find a way for his friend to quit vaping and that doing the act would discourage the friend from using the smoking product again. Unfortunately, it did not.

The Nevada native also told his host that he isn't a fan of answering too many questions at press conferences due to the repetitiveness of the queries and the general idea that "not everything needs to be explained."

Talbott is 3-0 in the UFC since November 2023.

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'We shouldn't allow this type of abuse': Biological female skateboarder speaks out after transgender female skateboarder wins female event, bests girls



Biological female competitive skateboarder Taylor Silverman spoke out Friday on Fox News after a transgender female skateboarder made headlines winning a female event and beating girls in the process.

What are the details?

Ricci Tres — a 29-year-old biologically male skateboarder who identifies as female — took first place at the Boardr Open women's finals in New York City late last month, besting 13-year-old Shiloh Catori, who came in second place. At least three other girls finished in the top five but weren't able to defeat Tres.

In regard to the apparent incongruence of the competition, Tres added to the Daily Mail, "I’m not going to go and be easy on them because they’re kids," according to Fox News.

Silverman told the cable network it's unfair, and everybody should speak out against transgender females competing against biological females — especially girls.

"We shouldn’t allow this type of abuse," she added to Fox News. "This should be ... normal to stand up for your kids when they're being abused in situations like this. And we shouldn’t be sitting in silence and fear."

Silverman also told host Dana Perino that she's been forced to compete against three different transgender females on three separate occasions and placed second in two of them.

"I lost out on some money because of it, and so did everybody else," she told Fox News. "We all got pushed back in our podium spots."

Silverman added to Fox News that after one of the events in which she lost to a trans skateboarder, she emailed sponsor Red Bull in the hopes of figuring out an "appropriate" solution.

"My email was completely ignored," she told the cable network.

Silverman told Fox News she decided to take her case to social media and share her story. The result? Silverman revealed to the cable network that she receives hundreds of messages of support "every single day" from athletes representing many sports.

"I am sick of being bullied into silence," Silverman noted at the time.

She added to Perino that some of her backers are afraid to speak out over the possibility of backlash.

"People are staying silent or acting like they're okay with it when people are actually incredibly upset," Silverman added.

13-year-old girl loses first place in skateboarding competition to 29-year-old transgender competitor



Ricci Tres, 29-year-old biologically male skateboarder who identifies as a woman, took first place during the Boardr Open women's finals in New York City, while 13-year-old skater Shiloh Catori came in second place.

Tres has previously said, "I know that I'll never be a woman, cuz women are miraculous, you know, they have babies ... I'll never have that ability." Tres added, "I feel like I'm a woman" and "guess I would've wished to be born one."

Ricci And Tres With Robert Brink: Trans Skateboarder Disqualified from 2020 Olympic Qualifiers. youtu.be

Catori posted a video in which she said that she is "not upset at all," and that she is actually concerned about how Tres is feeling.

Female skateboarder Taylor Silverman, who has previously spoken out against allowing transgender competitors to participate in women's contests, highlighted Tres's recent win and commented, "Male wins women’s finals and money at Boardr Open NYC presented by DC today. My story is not unique in skateboarding. My story is not unique in sports in general."

"I have been in three different contests with trans women, two of which I placed second," Silverman said in a statement last month. "At the last contest series I did for Redbull, I placed second. The trans competitor who won took $1000 dollars in qualifiers, $3000 in finals, and $1000 in best trick. This totaled to $5000 of the prize money meant for the female athletes. I took $1000 in qualifiers and $1750 for second place, so $2750 in total. The girl who took third received $750. The girl who deserved $1000 for best trick took nothing along with whoever would have placed third. I deserved to place first, be acknowledged for my win, and get paid," Silverman declared.

The topic of whether biological males who identify as women should be allowed to compete in women's sports remains an issue of significant controversy.

Women's soccer star Megan Rapinoe has said that she supports allowing transgender people to compete in sports.

"I'm 100% supportive of trans inclusion," Rapinoe said, according to Time. "At the highest level, there is regulation. In collegiate sports, there is regulation. And at the Olympic and professional level. It’s not like it’s a free-for-all where everyone's just doing whatever."

"Show me the evidence that trans women are taking everyone's scholarships, are dominating in every sport, are winning every title. I'm sorry, it's just not happening. So we need to start from inclusion, period. And as things arise, I have confidence that we can figure it out. But we can't start at the opposite. That is cruel. And frankly, it's just disgusting," Rapinoe said, according to the outlet.

'I am done being silent': Female skateboarder speaks out about placing second to a transgender competitor



Female skateboarder Taylor Silverman is speaking out about losing to a biological male — in an Instagram post, Silverman said that she placed second in a Red Bull competition and lost out on prize money because of a transgender competitor.

Silverman placed second in the Red Bull Cornerstone competition last year.

"My name is Taylor Silverman. I am a female athlete. I have been skateboarding for eleven years and competing for several years. I have been in three different contests with trans women, two of which I placed second. At the last contest series I did for Redbull, I placed second. The trans competitor who won took $1000 dollars in qualifiers, $3000 in finals, and $1000 in best trick. This totaled to $5000 of the prize money meant for the female athletes. I took $1000 in qualifiers and $1750 for second place, so $2750 in total. The girl who took third received $750. The girl who deserved $1000 for best trick took nothing along with whoever would have placed third. I deserved to place first, be acknowledged for my win, and get paid. I reached out to Redbull and was ignored. I am sick of being bullied into silence," Silverman wrote.

Silverman posted an email that she said she sent to Red Bull, but she noted that she has not received a reply.

"I am reaching out in hopes of being directed to the right person to express my concerns about what occurred at the Redbull Cornerstone contest with the transgender competitor in the women's division," she wrote. "A biological man with a clear advantage won the women's division, best trick, and also won multiple qualifiers. This took away the opportunity that was meant for women to place and earn money. What happened was unfair and at the time I was too uncomfortable to speak up. I understand that in todays society even some women think this is acceptable, but I believe in doing the right thing even if it's not the popular thing. I now realize it's really important for me to speak up and I'd like to schedule a time to talk."

While some on Instagram agreed with Silverman's sentiments, others promoted radical leftist gender ideology and decried Silverman for her comments.

"Good for you for speaking up Taylor! I support you. Please try to keep in mind that the internet is not an accurate snapshot of reality so the abuse you're getting here is not the voice of those around you. The VAST majority of people even in the most liberal areas agree with what you're saying here. I am sorry you're getting abuse for saying so," one commenter wrote.

"Trans women are women. The real issue here is you not seeing that," someone else commented. "The skater who won qualified and won fair and square. The reasoning you have here IS very transphobic."

NBC News Apologizes For Using Female Pronouns To Refer To A Female Olympic Skateboarder

NBC News used female pronouns to refer to a female skateboarder — and they want you to know they're deeply sorry about it.