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Jalin Turner | A New Purpose, Renewed Passion
Veteran Lightweight Jalin Turner Talks Stepping Away, Returning To The Sport And Eagerness Toward UFC 330
When Jalin Turner walked away from the sport last year, he did so with the intention of not ever returning to the Octagon.
Coming off consecutive stoppage losses and life presenting him with numerous challenges, pulling him in multiple directions, the talented lightweight announced his retirement. In his mind, that decision was the final chapter in his career as a mixed martial artist.
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“When you feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders and then there is no one there to support you, help uplift you, help alleviate some of the things you’re going through,” began Turner, providing a broad idea of why he walked away ahead of his second appearance since returning this weekend at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, where he faces Brazilian Kaue Fernandes.
Before finishing his thought, he shifted directions.
“I think it’s the story of most people that want to achieve something great — and most people that go through life in general: it gets hard, it gets heavy, and sometimes taking a step back and a step away allows you to refresh, clear your mind, and see what the opportunities are ahead.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to come back,” continued Turner, who has been competing professionally since 2016 and first started generating buzz when he was training with the Jackson-Wink MMA crew in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during his early days as a pro.
“I didn’t want to fight. I wanted to hang it up. I truly didn’t want to keep at it, but as I grew in my faith and pursued prayer and petition, I kept feeling the Lord tell me He wants me in this area. I’ve got talent, I’ve got a light to shine, there is more for me to do, so I’m doing it out of obedience, but He also showed me a newfound love for it.
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“When I found that new purpose, it made everything easier to transition and come back into,” he added. “There’s still be ups and downs within this last training camp, trying to get this fight, and I’ve been like, ‘You know, God? You asked me, You want me in this area, You want me to do it, so I will do it. But the results are honestly on You because You want me to be here, so I’m here.’”
As he made the decision to return to competition, Turner connected with one of his old Jackson-Wink teammates, Cub Swanson, who now owns and operates the Bloodline Combat Sports team and gym, connecting with that group both ahead of his bout with Edson Barboza in December and running it back this time around as he prepared for Fernandes.
“I’ve known Cub since I was 18 years old, so it was awesome to be able to support him,” Turner said, explanation how the decision to train — at least in part — with the Bloodline crew came about. “Even with the last camp, I was with them — Cub and the guys at Bloodline; we’ve kind of got a cool crew.
“We’ve just been working and seeing them achieve, seeing them stay hungry, seeing Richie (Miranda) just get into the UFC; it’s all these things where it’s ‘I’m right here and I’ve got this opportunity; I don’t want to waste it.’”
Though he’s younger than some of the members of the team, which includes UFC talents Rafa Garcia, Danny Silva, and Lerryan Douglas, Turner is the most experienced active fighter in the room when it comes to UFC starts, making the 31-year-old the “Old Head” in the room.
When asked what it’s like to be in that position after being one of the youngsters surrounded by established names back in his ABQ days, Turner laughed and said, “It honestly blows my mind.
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“When I went to Jackson, Carlos Condit was my guy; he was the reason I went there, and he was taking me under his wing for a bit, and then I get to spar with Donald Cerrone, Paul Felder, Diego Sanchez, and all these dudes that I looked up to. To even fathom and think there is a generation looking up to me like that is like, ‘Damn, that’s cool!’ It’s a motivating factor.”
Another motivating factor at the moment is the landscape of the lightweight division, which shifted again following Quillan Salkilld’s first-round submission win over Mateusz Gamrot last weekend. The Australian standout isn’t the only newer name making a push up the rankings, while Gamrot and others that Turner has gamely shared the Octagon with over the years have started to take a slight step back, creating an instability in the rankings that presents as an opportunity for a talented fighter like Turner.
“The new generation is bringing their own challenges: they’re a lot more well-rounded, and they’re ready to fight wherever,” offered the Inland Empire native. “We already knew that’s what was gonna happen, but there is a shifting of the tides, and I’m ready to be in there."
“I feel like I’m right around the cusp of where I can achieve a whole new level of greatness and learn enough to keep up with the next generation,” he added, smiling. “I’ve got the mental capacity and the age and experience to kind of endure some of these young whippersnappers.”
Though Fernandes doesn’t quite fit the “whippersnapper” description as he’s two months older than Turner, he is a relatively new name that has started making waves in the 155-pound weight class.
After dropping a split decision to veteran Marc Diakiese in his debut, the Nova Uniao representative has rattled off three straight wins, stopping Mohammad Yayha and out-hustling Guram Kutateladze over three rounds before chopping down Harry Hardwick last September with a barrage of leg kicks that left the former Cage Warriors champion hobbled.
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“I think he’s interesting because he’s willing to mix it up a little more as far as clinching, going for a takedown here and there,” Turner said, beginning his assessment of Fernandes, who carries an 11-2 record into the Octagon this weekend in Philadelphia. “His style presents some aloofness. He loves leg kicks, and I just fought Edson (Barboza), so I know Edson loves leg kicks too, and he likes to strike, so that’s fun.
“We’ll keep it on the feet, make it entertaining, and have fun.”
Having opted to return and found success last December when he ran through Barboza at UFC 323, Turner touches down in “The City of Brotherly Love” bolstered by a return to the win column and feeling less pressure to perform than he ever did in the past.
And as for the matter at the center of this week’s business trip to Philadelphia, there is only one outcome that will allow “The Tarantula” to head back home to California feeling like the cross-country journey was fruitful.
“Handle business,” he said. “I’m here to handle business; go in there, do my thing, and get my hand raised.”
UFC 330: Makhachev vs Machado Garry took place live from Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 15, 2026. See the final Prelim & Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC FIGHT PASS!
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