Las Vegas, NV – Another fight, another opponent from the City Kickboxing team for UFC lightweight Jalin Turner only this time it’s Dan Hooker at UFC 290 on Saturday night.
Problem is Turner kind of likes those guys, and had planned to go out there and train with them. Until this fight came about.
“Dan’s a vet. I’ve watched him for a long time. It’s going to be an honor to fight him, and yeah the style it excites me,” Turner told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“I expect him to stand up and bang, but you know, in case it does get to some grappling exchanges I’m going to be ready there. We’re going to put on some fireworks. It was fourth of July yesterday so now we’re going to put some fireworks on Saturday.”
Taking the fight with Hooker, knowing he would have liked to go train with his team in New Zealand, was actually a bit tough for Turner.
“Yeah, but at the end of the day it’s just business. I’ve got to go do my job, but yeah man like I said I follow the City Kickboxing team for a while. I watched Izzy (Adesanya) before he even got into the UFC. It’s all love. I don’t have any animosity or hate towards them. It’s just how business handles,” he said.
With a win at UFC 290 Turner is looking to take a big leap up the rankings. Not top 10, but top 5.
“I’m definitely looking towards the top 5 after this one. I think they just put somebody else in number 10 so I’m like whatever he can have it. I win this fight I’m looking at top 5. Whoever wants to let me in, let me in,” he said.
Watch the entire media day scrum with Jalin Turner above. He takes on Dan Hooker at UFC 290 on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.
