Jalin Turner: Difference between revisions

== Background ==

Born in [[San Bernardino, California]], Turner attended [[Summit High School (Fontana, California)|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 [[High school football|football]], [[basketball]] or [[track and field]] due to multiple injuries.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-10-28|title=UFC newcomer Jalin Turner fights out of and for San Bernardino|url=https://www.sbsun.com/ufc-newcomer-jalin-turner-fights-out-of-and-for-san-bernardino|access-date=2021-04-25|website=San Bernardino Sun|language=en-US}}</ref> Having the most talent in [[High school wrestling|wrestling]], Turner took up the sport during the [[High school wrestling#Season structure|pre-season]] of his [[Sophomore#United States|sophomore year]], but was unable to compete that season due to a broken finger.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeSantis |first=Michael |date=2018-07-06 |title=Jalin Turner: From Backyard Training to Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series |url=https://mmasucka.com/2018/07/05/jalin-turner-from-backyard-training-to-dana-whites-tuesday-night-contender-series/ |access-date=2019-04-24 |website=MMASucka.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Frustrated by the recurring injuries, he started watching [[MMA]] bouts on television, which inspired him to try and practice the sport.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Medcalf |first=Myron |date=2019-04-11 |title=Meet Jalin Turner, the tarantula-collecting lightweight ready to break through at UFC 236 |url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/26499713/meet-jalin-turner-tarantula-collecting-lightweight-ready-break-ufc-236 |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" /> Growing up, Turner was [[Arachnophobia|arachnophobic]], and to overcome that fear, he began to collect tarantulas as pets. When he made his UFC debut he had 200 of them, earning his ring nickname "The Tarantula".<ref>{{cite web|title=Meet Jalin Turner, the tarantula-collecting lightweight ready to break through at UFC 236|url=http://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/26499713/meet-jalin-turner-tarantula-collecting-lightweight-ready-break-ufc-236|date=April 12, 2019|accessdate=April 14, 2019|publisher=ESPN MMA}}</ref> At [[UFC Vegas 10]] Turner had his official weight taken while holding a tarantula in his left hand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Amy |date=2020-09-11 |title=Jalin Turner brought an actual tarantula to the scale for his UFC Vegas 10 weigh-in |url=https://fansided.com/2020/09/11/jalin-turner-brought-actual-tarantula-scale-ufc-vegas-10-weigh-photo/ |access-date=2023-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815121911/https://fansided.com/2020/09/11/jalin-turner-brought-actual-tarantula-scale-ufc-vegas-10-weigh-photo/ |archive-date=2022-08-15 }}</ref>

== Mixed martial arts career ==

=== Early career ===

Turner faced [[Brad Riddell]] on July 2, 2022, at [[UFC 276]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Jay |date=2022-05-16 |title=Jalin Turner vs. Brad Riddell Set for July's UFC 276 |url=https://cagesidepress.com/2022/05/16/jalin-turner-vs-brad-riddell-set-julys-ufc-276/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Cageside Press |language=en-US}}</ref> He won the bout via guillotine choke submission less than a minute into the contest.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Jay |date=2022-07-02 |title=UFC 276: Jalin Turner Jumps on Early Guillotine Against Brad Riddell |url=https://cagesidepress.com/2022/07/02/ufc-276-brad-riddell-vs-jalin-turner/ |access-date=2022-07-03 |website=Cageside Press |language=en-US}}</ref> This win earned him a ''[[List of UFC bonus award recipients|Performance of the Night]]'' award.<ref name="UFC 276">{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/platform/amp/2022/7/3/23193176/ufc-276-bonuses-bryan-barberena-robbie-lawler-brawl-wins-fight-of-night-three-fast-finishes-rewarded|title=UFC 276 bonuses: Bryan Barberena and Robbie Lawler brawl wins Fight of the Night, three fast finishes rewarded|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Alexander K. Lee|date=2022-07-02|access-date=2022-07-02}}</ref>

 

 

Turner faced [[Dan Hooker]] on July 8, 2023 at [[UFC 290]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2023/04/ufc-290-robbie-lawler-vs-niko-price-dan-hooker-jalin-turner|title=UFC 290 adds Robbie Lawler vs. Niko Price, Dan Hooker vs. Jalin Turner|website=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King|date=2023-04-21|access-date=2023-04-21}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/7/7/23787142/ufc-290-weigh-in-results-two-title-fights-set-jalin-turner-misses-weight|title=UFC 290 weigh-in results: Two title fights set, Jalin Turner misses weight|website=www.mmafighting.com}}</ref> In a back and forth bout, Turner came out losing the bout via split decision.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morehouse |first=Cade |date=2023-07-08 |title=UFC 290: Bloodied Dan Hooker Emerges Victorious Following Three-Round War with Jalin Turner |url=https://cagesidepress.com/2023/07/08/ufc-290-jalin-turner-vs-dan-hooker/ |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=Cageside Press |language=en-US}}</ref>