# Jalin Turner
**Jalin Turner** (born 1995) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division of the [Ultimate Fighting Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/ultimate-fighting-championship) (UFC), where he is known for the nickname "The Tarantula" and for a 100 percent finishing rate built on knockout power delivered from an unusually long frame for the weight class.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/jalin-turner?language_content_entity=ko) • [2](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/stats/_/id/4339490/jalin-turner) He stands 6 feet 3 inches tall with a 77-inch reach, fights from a southpaw stance, and has compiled a professional record of 16 wins and 9 losses with no decision victories on his win side.[2](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/stats/_/id/4339490/jalin-turner) • [3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jalin-Turner-158269)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1995, Los Angeles, United States[2](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/stats/_/id/4339490/jalin-turner) • [4](https://jp.ufc.com/athlete/jalin-turner) |
| Division / stance | Lightweight (155 lb); southpaw; 6'3", 77" reach[2](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/stats/_/id/4339490/jalin-turner) |
| Pro record | 16-9-0; 12 wins by KO/TKO, 4 by submission, 0 by decision[3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jalin-Turner-158269) |
| Finishing | 13 first-round finishes; five wins in under a minute (0:32, 0:36, 0:39, 0:45, and 0:53)[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/jalin-turner?language_content_entity=ko) |
| UFC tenure | Pro since 2016; UFC debut October 7, 2018[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/jalin-turner?language_content_entity=ko) |
| Retirement and return | Retired after a March 2025 loss at UFC 313; returned with a TKO of Edson Barboza at UFC 323 in December 2025[5](https://www.ufc.com/news/jalin-turner-new-purpose-renewed-passion) |
| Most recent fight | Knocked out Kaue Fernandes at 0:39 of round 1 at UFC 330, August 15, 2026[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/jalin-turner?language_content_entity=ko) |
## Early training and path to the UFC
Turner began his martial arts training in earnest in his backyard, without a punching bag; he stood a couch on end and used it as one, studying videos of [Anderson Silva](https://www.edgepedia.org/anderson-silva) and other strikers to learn techniques on his own.[6](https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/3/10/22969341/jalin-turner-felt-guilty-helping-michael-bisping-prepare-for-anderson-silva-im-betraying-my-hero) He competed as an amateur from 2013 to 2015, winning eight of eleven amateur bouts before turning professional in February 2016.[3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jalin-Turner-158269)
Before his UFC career began, Turner took paid work as a sparring partner for [Michael Bisping](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-bisping), the future UFC middleweight champion, ahead of Bisping's 2016 headlining fight against Anderson Silva, a fighter Turner idolized. He described feeling as though he was "betraying" his hero but accepted the job because, in his words, "I was a hungry, young kid. I had to pay the bills." Bisping defeated Silva by decision.[6](https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/3/10/22969341/jalin-turner-felt-guilty-helping-michael-bisping-prepare-for-anderson-silva-im-betraying-my-hero)
Turner earned his UFC contract through [Dana White](https://www.edgepedia.org/dana-white)'s Tuesday Night Contender Series in July 2018, stopping Max Mustaki by doctor stoppage, and made his octagon debut on October 7, 2018 at [UFC 229](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-229), where he was knocked out by [Vicente Luque](https://www.edgepedia.org/vicente-luque) in the first round.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/jalin-turner?language_content_entity=ko) • [3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jalin-Turner-158269) In his early professional days he generated buzz while training with the Jackson-Wink MMA crew in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[5](https://www.ufc.com/news/jalin-turner-new-purpose-renewed-passion)
## UFC career
**First win and early run.** Turner scored his first UFC win at [UFC 234](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-234) in Melbourne on February 9, 2019, a 53-second TKO of Callan Potter, on a card headlined by Anderson Silva and [Israel Adesanya](https://www.edgepedia.org/israel-adesanya). During fight week, Silva approached Turner and told him, "The secret is love," a moment Turner described as surreal.[6](https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/3/10/22969341/jalin-turner-felt-guilty-helping-michael-bisping-prepare-for-anderson-silva-im-betraying-my-hero) A unanimous-decision loss to Matt Frevola at [UFC 236](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-236) followed in April 2019.[3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jalin-Turner-158269)
**Win streak.** By early 2022 Turner was on a four-fight winning streak, having stopped Joshua Culibao in February 2020, submitted Brok Weaver in September 2020, submitted Uros Medic at [UFC 266](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-266) in September 2021, and defeated Jamie Mullarkey by second-round TKO at [UFC 272](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-272) in March 2022.[6](https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/3/10/22969341/jalin-turner-felt-guilty-helping-michael-bisping-prepare-for-anderson-silva-im-betraying-my-hero) • [3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jalin-Turner-158269) At UFC 276 in July 2022 he submitted Brad Riddell with a guillotine choke in 45 seconds.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/jalin-turner?language_content_entity=ko)
**Setbacks against ranked opponents.** Turner then lost three-round split decisions to [Mateusz Gamrot](https://www.edgepedia.org/mateusz-gamrot) at [UFC 285](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-285) in March 2023 and [Dan Hooker](https://www.edgepedia.org/dan-hooker) at UFC 290 in July 2023.[3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jalin-Turner-158269) He rebounded with a first-round knockout of Bobby "King" Green at UFC on ESPN 52 on December 2, 2023, then lost to Renato Moicano by second-round TKO at UFC 300 on April 13, 2024.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/jalin-turner?language_content_entity=ko) • [3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jalin-Turner-158269)
**Retirement and return.** At UFC 313 on March 8, 2025, Turner was submitted by Ignacio Bahamondes via triangle choke at 2:29 of the first round, and he announced his retirement afterward. He later said he walked away intending never to return, citing the weight of personal challenges and a lack of support, and that "honestly, I didn't want to come back."[3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jalin-Turner-158269) • [5](https://www.ufc.com/news/jalin-turner-new-purpose-renewed-passion) He returned at [UFC 323](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-323) on December 6, 2025, stopping Edson Barboza by TKO at 2:24 of the first round, and then knocked out Kaue Fernandes in 39 seconds at UFC 330 in Philadelphia on August 15, 2026, his second win since coming back.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/jalin-turner?language_content_entity=ko) • [5](https://www.ufc.com/news/jalin-turner-new-purpose-renewed-passion)
## Fighting style
Turner's defining physical trait is his reach, 77 inches, which belongs to much heavier divisions and shapes every one of his fights; combined with his 6-foot-3 height and southpaw stance, it makes him one of the most physically imposing fighters at 155 pounds.[2](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/stats/_/id/4339490/jalin-turner) • [7](https://www.truecontendermma.com/en/fighters/jalin-turner) His output backs the frame: he lands 5.79 significant strikes per minute with 52 percent striking accuracy in UFC competition.[8](https://fightsplit.com/fighters/jalin-turner)
The results reflect a finisher's profile. All 16 of his professional wins have come by knockout or submission, 12 by KO/TKO and 4 by submission (a guillotine, a triangle, and two rear-naked chokes), with 13 first-round finishes and five wins in under a minute.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/jalin-turner?language_content_entity=ko) • [3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jalin-Turner-158269) His average UFC fight time is 6 minutes 16 seconds.[4](https://jp.ufc.com/athlete/jalin-turner) He has won eight of his last 12 fights.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/jalin-turner?language_content_entity=ko)
## Weight and size at lightweight
Turner's size at 155 pounds has drawn recurring attention. He competes at lightweight despite a height and reach typical of welterweights and middleweights, and his listed weight on fight records has been given as both 155 and 156 pounds.[2](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/stats/_/id/4339490/jalin-turner) • [3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jalin-Turner-158269) A Spanish-language AS report on a gaunt-looking Turner weigh-in noted that a short-notice fight leaves less time to reduce body fat and forces extreme water weight loss, reopening debate about whether catchweights should be used for short-notice bouts to protect fighter health.[9](https://as.com/us/masdeporte/un-jalin-turner-demacrado-reabre-el-debate-sobre-los-cortes-de-peso-n/)
## References
1. [Jalin Turner, UFC athlete profile](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/jalin-turner?language_content_entity=ko)
2. [Jalin Turner MMA Career Stats, ESPN](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/stats/_/id/4339490/jalin-turner)
3. [Jalin "The Tarantula" Turner, Sherdog](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jalin-Turner-158269)
4. [ジェイリン・ターナー, UFC Japan](https://jp.ufc.com/athlete/jalin-turner)
5. [Jalin Turner: A New Purpose, Renewed Passion, UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/news/jalin-turner-new-purpose-renewed-passion)
6. [Jalin Turner felt guilty helping Michael Bisping prepare for Anderson Silva, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/3/10/22969341/jalin-turner-felt-guilty-helping-michael-bisping-prepare-for-anderson-silva-im-betraying-my-hero)
7. [Jalin Turner: next fight, record, ranking and Elo, True Contender MMA](https://www.truecontendermma.com/en/fighters/jalin-turner)
8. [Jalin Turner, FightSplit](https://fightsplit.com/fighters/jalin-turner)
9. [Un Jalin Turner demacrado reabre el debate sobre los cortes de peso, AS](https://as.com/us/masdeporte/un-jalin-turner-demacrado-reabre-el-debate-sobre-los-cortes-de-peso-n/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Mixed martial arts › Lightweight fighters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license