Jalin Turner was ending a brief retirement when he faced Edson Barboza as part of Saturday’s UFC 323 preliminary card in Las Vegas.
Turner, still just 30, was facing a veteran in Barboza, who had been with the UFC since 2010, and had pulled off some of the company’s top highlight reel knocks. Despite struggling of late with two straight losses and a 2-2 record in his last four, Brazil’s Barboza had three post-fight bonuses in that span.
Both fighters chose to stand and trade in the first round with Barboza throwing threatening body kicks early. Turner cracked Barboza over the top with a right hand, as Barboza was already leaking blood from an elbow to the top of his head. Turner landed a flush strike on the inside that floored Barboza. Turner continued marching as Barboza fought to his feet. Pouring blood from the right side of his face, Barboza was fading quickly. Turner showed killer instinct in his return stopping the longtime contender Edson Barboza with an accumulation of strikes against the cage.
Referee Herb Dean called a stop to the action at two minutes and twenty four seconds in the first round. Coming back from a short retirement, Jalin Turner has put his name back into contendership with a dominant stoppage win in his return.
Turner was very emotional in his post fight interview with Joe Rogan, admitting that “I almost gave up on my dream,” and urging fans not to do the same. Looking as good as we have ever seen him Jalin “The Turantuala” Turner just showcased his skill and reminded the division just how talented he is.
Official Result: Jalin Turner def. Edson Barboza by TKO, Round 1, 2:24
