Jalin Turner has indeed decided to step away from MMA, at least for the time being.
This past weekend at UFC 313, Turner faced Ignacio Bahamondes in a main card fight, which unfortunately did not go his way. Bahamondes defeated Turner with a triangle choke submission in the first round. This marked Turner’s fourth loss in his last five fights and, surprisingly, became the last fight of his professional career.
Following the event, Turner announced his retirement from MMA backstage. This announcement was unexpected, considering he is only 29 years old and has been in the sport for nine years. On Tuesday, Turner, known as “The Tarantula,” confirmed his decision in a social media post. He explained that he has “lost the focus and fire” but also suggested a possible return to fighting in the future.
“Thank you for all the support! I started MMA training at 18 in 2013. I began in my backyard, a kid from Southern California, Los Angeles born and Inland Empire raised, without a clear path but with a big dream. God opened the door to MMA when I felt lost. I gave myself 4 years to reach a major promotion and succeeded. In the 5th year, I joined the UFC in 2018 and reached the top 10 in a very competitive division. I even made it into a video game. Looking back, it feels surreal. I love you all. I apologize for losing my focus and passion sooner than I anticipated. At 29 years old, time is still on my side. I wish I could respond to every message, but know that all the positive messages have helped me immensely. I appreciate everything!”
“Things can change… We’ll see what the future holds.”
Before his defeat at UFC 313, Turner was ranked No. 13 in the UFC lightweight rankings. He entered the UFC through Contender Series in 2018. His debut was against Vicente Luque at welterweight before moving down to the lightweight division, where he achieved a 7-5 record in the promotion and earned two Performance of the Night bonuses.
