Jalin Turner

Jalin Turner, known as “The Tarantula,” transitioned from a challenging upbringing to a significant career in mixed martial arts, competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight division. After building an impressive amateur record of 5-2, Jalin Turner launched his professional mixed martial arts career in 2016. Quickly gaining recognition, he amassed a 7-3 record fighting primarily across California. A significant early career highlight included a technical knockout victory against Noah Tillis at Bellator 192 in January 2018.

This pivotal performance, combined with his preceding two-fight winning streak, brought him to the attention of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), leading to his signing later that year. By September 2018, Turner held a purple belt in jiu-jitsu, demonstrating his foundational grappling expertise. Turner made his highly anticipated UFC debut on October 6, 2018, at UFC 229 against Vicente Luque. Following his debut, he secured his first UFC victory in February 2019 at UFC 234, defeating Callan Potter via a first-round knockout.

These impactful victories propelled him to his highest career ranking, achieving the #9 spot in the competitive UFC lightweight division by January 2024. Turner continued to compete at the highest level of the sport, concluding his distinguished career with the UFC in March 2025. He formally announced his retirement from mixed martial arts competition at UFC 313, following a submission loss to Ignacio Bahamondes, marking the end of a notable chapter in his professional journey within the lightweight division.