Jalin Turner

Jalin Turner ( ; born May 18, 1995) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2016, he has also competed for Bellator MMA, the World Series of Fighting, King of the Cage, and Tachi Palace Fights.

Background Born in San Bernardino, California, Turner attended Summit High School and has described that he grew up in a rough neighbourhood. In high school he was unable to play much sports such as football, basketball or track and field due to multiple injuries. Having the most talent in wrestling, Turner took up the sport during the pre-season of his sophomore year, but was unable to compete that season due to a broken finger. Frustrated by the recurring injuries, he started watching MMA bouts on television, which inspired him to try and practice the sport. With little money as a teenager and unable to afford combat training equipment, he would run and shadow box and used his family couch as a punching bag, until he joined Team Adrenaline which kickstarted his mixed martial arts career. At UFC Vegas 10 Turner had his official weight taken while holding a tarantula in his left hand.

Mixed martial arts career Early career After compiling an amateur record of 5–2, Turner started his professional MMA career since 2016 and fought primarily in his home state of California. He amassed a record of 7–3, with two-fight winning streak including a technical knockout win against Noah Tillis in Bellator 192, before being signed by the UFC.

In a September 2018 interview with UFC, Turner said he held a purple belt in jiu-jitsu. In January 2022, Compex, a corporate sponsor, reported Jalin was a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series Turner faced Max Mustaki on June 19, 2018 at Dana White's Contender Series 12, winning by technical knockout in round one.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Turner made his UFC debut against Vicente Luque on October 6, 2018 at UFC 229, losing by knockout in the first round.

In his second UFC fight Turner was scheduled to face Alex Gorgees at UFC 234. However, on January 23, 2019, it was reported that Gorgees had pulled out of the fight, and was replaced by Callan Potter. Turner won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Turner faced Matt Frevola on April 13, 2019 at UFC 236. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Turner was scheduled to face Jamie Mullarkey on February 23, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 168. However Mullarkey was forced to withdraw from the bout due to injury and he was replaced by Joshua Culibao. Turner won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Turner was scheduled to face Thiago Moisés on September 5, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 176. However, on September 5, 2020, Moisés tested positive for COVID-19 and the bout against Turner was cancelled. In turn, Turner was quickly rescheduled and faced Brok Weaver on September 12, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 177. After knocking Weaver down multiple times, Turner won the fight via a rear–naked choke submission in round two.

In January 2024, Turner attained his highest ranking at #9 in the UFC lightweight division.

Turner faced Uroš Medić on September 25, 2021 at UFC 266. He won the fight via rear naked choke in round one.

Turner faced Jamie Mullarkey on March 5, 2022 at UFC 272. He won the fight via technical knockout in round two.

Turner faced Brad Riddell on July 2, 2022, at UFC 276. He won the bout via guillotine choke submission less than a minute into the contest. This win earned him a Performance of the Night award.

Turner was scheduled to face Dan Hooker on March 4, 2023, at UFC 285. However, Hooker was forced to withdraw from the event, citing a hand injury, and he was replaced by Mateusz Gamrot. In a closely contested bout where Gamrot employed his wrestling to combat Turner's reach advantage, Turner lost by split decision.

Turner faced Dan Hooker on July 8, 2023 at UFC 290. At the weigh-ins Turner weighed in at 158 pounds, 2 pounds over the non-title lightweight limit. As a result, the bout proceeded as a catchweight and Turner was fined 20% of his fight purse, which went to Hooker. In a back and forth bout, Turner came out losing the bout via split decision.

Turner stepped in on one week's notice to face Bobby Green on December 2, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 52, as a replacement for an injured Dan Hooker. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Turner faced Renato Moicano on April 13, 2024, at UFC 300. Despite scoring an early knockdown, Turner lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Turner faced Ignacio Bahamondes on March 8, 2025 at UFC 313. He lost the fight via a triangle choke submission in the first round. After the bout, he left his gloves in the middle of the octagon and appeared to retire from mixed martial arts competition.

Return to UFC Turner made his return to the UFC against Edson Barboza on December 6, 2025 at UFC 323. He won the fight by technical knockout in the first round.

Turner faced Kauê Fernandes on August 15, 2026 at UFC 330. He won the fight by knockout in the first round. This fight earned him a $100,000 Performance of the Night award.

Championships and awards Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (Three times)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Kauê Fernandes KO (punches) UFC 330

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Edson Barboza TKO (punches) UFC 323

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Ignacio Bahamondes Submission (triangle choke) UFC 313

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Renato Moicano TKO (elbows and punches) UFC 300

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Bobby Green KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan

Austin, Texas, United States Loss

Dan Hooker Decision (split) UFC 290

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Mateusz Gamrot Decision (split) UFC 285

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Brad Riddell Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 276

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jamie Mullarkey TKO (punches) UFC 272

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Uroš Medić Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 266

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Brok Weaver Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Joshua Culibao TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker

Auckland, New Zealand Loss

Matt Frevola Decision (unanimous) UFC 236

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Win

Callan Potter TKO (punches) UFC 234

Melbourne, Australia Loss

Vicente Luque KO (punches) UFC 229

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Max Mustaki TKO (doctor stoppage) Dana White's Contender Series 12

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Noah Tillis TKO (punches) Bellator 192

Inglewood, California, United States

Vytautas Sadauskas Submission (triangle choke) KOTC: Never Quit

Ontario, California, United States

Richard LeRoy TKO (punches) California Xtreme Fighting 8

Burbank, California, United States

Paradise Vaovasa KO (knee to the body) Tachi Palace Fights 31

Lemoore, California, United States

Gabriel Green KO (punches) Bellator 170

Inglewood, California, United States

Andrew Lagdaan Decision (split) SMASH Global 4

Los Angeles, California, United States

Ronnie Borja KO (punches) California Fight League 8

Victorville, California, United States

Adrian Ajoleza TKO (body kick) BAMMA Badbeat 20

Commerce, California, United States

Eric Steans KO (punch) WSOF 28

Garden Grove, California, United States