Jalin Turner overwhelmed the newcomer Joshua Culibao at UFC Auckland, utilizing ground-and-pound to put him away in the second round.
It’s a storyline that pretty much writes itself, one that comes attached to any number of UFC debuts. The short-notice replacement, the last-minute call-up. At UFC Auckland, the role was handed to Joshua Culibao, who put his perfect 8-0 record on the line when he stepped in against Jalin Turner. Up a weight class, no less, as featherweight Culibao was heading north to lightweight for the affair.
Turner starts off the feet controlling the Octagon with his length. Some good offense with punches, knees, and kicks forced Culibao to shoot. Turner showed good defense and controlled the smaller Culibao for quite some time. Midway through, he landed a big knee to the body of the Australian and then dropped for a guillotine. The submission came up short as the position wasn’t right. The first round closed with some good body kicks from Turner, utilizing his range.
In the second round, Culibao continued to find his range, but Turner kept it where he wanted it with slips and counters. Culibao seemed to roll his ankle against the cage and Turner smelt the blood and went right after the Aussie. Another guillotine from Turner set the finish up as he quickly got the mount and the back. Turner let go with some ground and pound and Culbao showed no improvement of position so the ref stepped in.
Jalin Turner def. Joshua Culibao by TKO (Ground and Pound) in Round 2 (3:01)
