Jalin Turner seems to have run into a bit of a rough patch lately. Once a dominant player in Adrenaline Combat Sports, he’s recently had a couple of missteps. However, he’s aiming to regain his momentum in the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight division this weekend. He’ll be facing off against former King of the Cage titleholder, Bobby Green. This will be the co-headliner event at the UFC on ESPN 52, taking place this Saturday at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. Turner, despite back-to-back losses, is ready to lay it all on the line.
His overall promotional record is still a respectable 6-4. It isn’t something to sneer at with victories over formidable opponents such as Jamie Mullarkey, Uros Medic, Brok Weaver, and Joshua Culibao. These commendable wins add heft to his resume, proving his prowess in the sport. As we gear up for Turner’s impending clash with Green in the 155-pound bout, here are some interesting tidbits about him.
Turner is a proud graduate of Summitt High School, located in Fontana, California. This institution is known for its knack of producing professional athletes. The most shining example would be current NFL running back, Jamal Williams. He put Detroit Lions on the map in 2022 by leading the league in rushing touchdowns with a whopping 17.
One of Turner’s biggest appeals is his unique physicality. For a 28-year-old Californian, standing at six-foot-three with a wingspan of 77 inches is unusual. These off-the-charts physical attributes make him one of the tallest and longest lightweights in the UFC roster. Against Green, these advantages give Turner a clear edge with a four-inch height and six-inch reach advantage.
Turner’s skills aren’t just limited to his height and wingspan. His prowess in the Octagon is simply intense. He’s got a stunning track record of 13 wins to his name—all of which have been finishes! This includes four mind-boggling sub-minute stoppages in major organizations. His highlight reel boasts of victories like his 28 second knockout of Eric Steans in 2016 and a 45 second guillotine choke on Brad Riddell in 2022 at UFC 276. Despite these victories though, Turner has seen the other side of the coin as well.
Judges, as it appears, don’t always favor Turner. The Tarantula, as he’s affectionately called, has a 0-4 record in bouts that reach the scorecards. Three of these losses resulted in split verdicts, casting a slight shadow on his otherwise respectable record. This includes defeats to former KSW champion Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 285 and City Kickboxing standout Dan Hooker at UFC 290.
Ironically, Turner’s nickname has a unique backstory. He started keeping tarantulas as pets to fight his childhood fear of spiders, a condition known as arachnophobia. According to a 2019 interview with ESPN, he used to have as many as 200 spiders at one time! Now that’s truly facing your fears head-on.