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Jalin Turner has officially stepped away from MMA—for now. The talented lightweight fighter shocked fans when he announced his retirement following his loss at UFC 313. Facing Ignacio Bahamondes, Turner suffered a disappointing defeat via triangle choke submission in the first round. This marked his fourth loss in five fights, leading him to make the unexpected decision to retire at just 29 years old.
Turner, also known as The Tarantula, had an impressive journey in the UFC. He entered the promotion through the Contender Series in 2018 and quickly made a name for himself. Although he debuted as a welterweight against Vicente Luque, he later found success at lightweight (155 lbs), securing a 7-5 record in the organization. He also earned two Performance of the Night bonuses, proving his exciting fighting style.
However, despite his early success, Turner revealed in a social media post on Tuesday that he has lost the focus and fire for the sport. His statement solidified that, at least for now, he is stepping away from MMA.
While Turner has officially retired, he left a crucial door open for a potential return. Many fighters who step away eventually find their way back into the octagon, and given that Turner is still young, fans are hopeful he might reignite his passion.
As he once said in an interview, Where do you see yourself in 5 years?—only time will tell if Turner's future still includes the UFC.