Twelfth-ranked lightweight Jalin Turner stepped in on short notice to fight fan-favorite Bobby Green and his ever-present swagger at UFC Austin.
Jalin Turner, known as one of the largest lightweights ever, shocked fans by making weight at 156-lbs for this contest, redeeming himself for his weight miss in his ‘Fight of the Night’ loss against Dan Hooker. Turner was Hooker’s replacement for this bout, in fact, leaving Bobby Green facing another tall, dangerous striker. Bobby’s fast hands and slick boxing carried him to a two-fight winning streak and the thirteenth spot in the lightweight rankings, but it was his fight week confrontations with Arman Tsarukyan’s team which drew headlines heading into the event. The potential for a high-action fight meant fans had this one circled on their calendars long before that controversy, however it would be another controversy which followed the fight due to the actions of referee Kerry Hatley.
Bobby Green opened the fight with a spinning back kick to the body, showcasing his usual flair. They traded punches while still figuring out the range, Bobby switching stances and making that range difficult to manage for his opponent, as usual. Jalin’s incredible length helped him though, and they seemed well-matched early on. Suddenly, Jalin turned the tides by landing a short double jab right hand which caught Bobby on the way in. Green’s legs went wobbly and a massive right hand put him facedown, seemingly either un- or barely conscious. Referee Kerry Hatley refused to stop the fight as Jalin Turner pounded away on a defenseless, facedown, and soon clearly unconscious Bobby Green.
Unfortunately the refereeing display overshadowed what was a brilliant finish from Jalin Turner on short notice. He was all class in his post-fight interview and should feel great about his performance against a long-time veteran in the biggest win of his career. With that he will regain a lot of the momentum he lost with the Dan Hooker loss, especially because of his 100% finish rate in his victories.
