Top 15 UFC lightweight contender Jalin Turner has seemingly retired from MMA, though it may not be permanent.
Close Battle Eventually Ends in Disaster for Jalin Turner
Racking up a 1-3 record in his past four fights, Turner looked to turn his fortunes around by halting the momentum of rising Chilean prospect Ignacio Bahamondes at UFC 313. Since dropping a unanimous decision loss to L’udovit Klein in 2023, Bahamondes had garnered two consecutive first round knockout victories over Christos Giagos and Manuel Torres.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and possessing a reach of 75 inches, “La Jaula” is one of the most physically imposing competitors in the UFC’s 155-lb division, matching the equally tall and lanky Turner in every respect.
Pushing the pace early on, “The Tarantula” began to advance towards Bahamondes, landing several stiff shots to the body and face of the unranked bruiser. Attempting to take his opponent down, Bahamondes secured a body lock on Jalin Turner, only for the Californian to reverse and put him on his back.
Getting into his foe’s full guard, Jalin Turner delivered a fair bit of ground-and-pound before Bahamondes started to go on the offense, dragging Turner’s head down and pelting him with elbows. Maneuvering into a better position, the Chilean skillfully locked up a triangle near the halfway point of the first round, which swiftly forced Jalin Turner to tap in a masterclass performance.
Jalin Turner Hangs Up Gloves
In the days following his defeat in Las Vegas, Jalin Turner took to Instagram to formally state that he was walking away from competition, citing a lack of desire to continue competing. He would, although end his message by leaving open the possibility for a return down the line.
“Thank you for all the love and support!”, Jalin Turner began. “I started training mma at 18 in 2013 I started training in my backyard, a SoCal, LA born, IE raised kid with no path and a big dream. God opened the door to MMA when I didn’t know where else to go.”
“I gave myself 4 years to fight in a big promotion and I did then the 5th year I got to the UFC in 2018,” he continued. “Made it to the top 10 in the toughest division, I made it in a video game.”
“Looking back it doesn’t feel real,” he wrote “I love you all. I’m sorry I lost my focus and fire earlier than ever expected. 29 years young time is on my good side. I wish I could reply to everyone’s messages. Just know all the positivity has helped me more than you all know I appreciate it all!”
“Things can change …We’ll see what the future holds, he concluded”
Jalin Turner retires from MMA with an overall record of 14-9, including a UFC record of 7-6. During his time in the promotion, the 29-year old racked up notable wins over some of the lightweight categories finest such as Brad Riddell and King Green.
