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

The post UFC 323: Jalin Turner Makes Stellar Return From Retirement, Stops Edson Barboza appeared first on Cageside Press.

 

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“Thank you for all the love and support! I started training MMA at 18 in 2013. I started training in my backyard, a SoCal, LA born, IE raised kid with no path and a big dream. God opened the door to MMA when I didn’t know where else to go. I gave myself 4 years to fight in a big promotion and I did, then the 5th year I got to the UFC in 2018. Made it to the top 10 in the toughest division. I made it in a video game. Looking back, it doesn’t feel real. I love you all. I’m sorry I lost my focus and fire earlier than ever expected. 29 years young, time is on my good side. I wish I could reply to everyone’s messages. Just know all the positivity has helped me more than you all know. I appreciate it all!”

Then he added,“Things can change …We’ll see what the future holds.“

Turner (14-9) put up a tough fight against Ignacio Bahamondes at UFC 313 on Saturday night before losing the bout via submission in the first round. Bahamondes said in the post-fight scrum that Turner told him he was going to retire after the loss.

Bahamondes pleaded with him not to call it a career.

“Yeah I told him don’t do that. Don’t do that, come on, if you need help, if you need something, I’m here,” Bahamondes said.

“If you need to come to Chicago and train so just to love it again I told him he could stay in my house. No problem. I’m open to help him, our team is open to help him. I just told him to go back home, just think about it, but please don’t do it. He pushed me to my best and make me so better. He’s still got a lot more to give to this sport.”

Turner finishes his career with a 14-9 professional record including a 7-6 run in the UFC. A short stint in Bellator brought him two wins with no losses. He holds victories over Uros Medic, Brad Riddell, Jamie Mullarkey, Josh Culibao, and King Green.

The post Jalin Turner Confirms Retirement, “Things can change…” appeared first on Cageside Press.

For those keeping track, all of UFC 313’s bonuses were earned on the main card. The Fight of the Night came in the short notice co-main event rematch where Justin Gaethje triumphed once again over Rafael Fiziev. And in the last fight of the night, Alex Pereira lost his light heavyweight belt to Magomed Ankalaev by unanimous decision.

The main card had a little bit of everything: a war, a submission, a retirement, a KO of the Year contender and a title changing hands. Some obvious and some not so obvious picks on this edition of our losers matchmaker piece.

Alex Pereira

Alex Pereira lost in his fourth title defense to a grappling-heavy Magomed Ankalaev on Saturday. UFC 313’s main event saw Pereira defending takedown after takedown, suffering a knockdown and putting up a valiant effort, but ultimately, coming up short. Pereira is now 9-2 with the UFC and no longer undefeated at 205lbs. Saturday’s title fight was the only that Alex has been in with the UFC that has not ended with a finish.

Magomed, who was the #1 ranked light heavyweight coming into the bout, is 12-1-1, 1 NC while with the promotion. Ankalaev has looked incredibly dominant against all his opponents recently (outside of Jan Blachowicz who took him to a draw). Pretty much the only fight to make here barring something unexpected happening is to run this one back immediately. I think this fight left a bad taste in the mouths of a lot of fight fans. With a champion as dominant as Pereira it only makes sense to run it back especially with most of the division already booked up.

Pereira’s next fight: Magomed Ankalaev rematch

Rafael Fiziev

Rafael Fiziev put on an excellent short notice performance but ultimately lost a unanimous decision to Justin Gaethje in the co-main event of UFC 313 Saturday. Fans had not seen Fiziev since February of 2023 when a knee injury triggered a second round TKO loss to Mateusz Gamrot.

Fiziev entered the fight ranked at #11 in the lightweight division. Gaethje entered the fight ranked at #3 though he was originally scheduled to take on the #6 ranked Dan Hooker. The UFC decided to go with Rafael as their replacement and the Fight of the Night co-main event at UFC 313, was ensuing the result.

Fiziev has now lost three fights in a row but with a huge asterisk next to that stat. Two decisions against Gaethje, one on short notice, and then getting injured against Gamrot. Now likely in good graces with both the promotional brass and fans, Fiziev should expect a solid matchup next. Enter Beniel Dariush, who should be Rafael Fiziev’s next opponent.

Dariush is another one of those fighters in the very deep 155lbs roster that is often the odd man out. The #9 ranked lightweight has lost his last two fights and didn’t make it out of the first round in either (against Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan). Beneil was booked to take on Renato Moicano in January but had to step aside when Rentao was rebooked for a short notice title bout.

Fiziev could also fight the loser of #12 Paddy Pimblett vs. #7 Michael Chandler. That fight goes down at UFC 314 on April 12th. Fiziev getting the loser would mean getting a big name either way that fight goes. Fiziev needs a win, and he needs it over a name with a ranking. But most importantly, he needs fights- you have to stay active. All three potential opponents present an opportunity for Fiziev to showcase his dangerous striking pedigree.

Fiziev’s next fight: Beneil Dariush or Paddy Pimblett vs. Michael Chandler loser

Jalin Turner

Jalin Turner was quickly submitted by Ignacio Bahamondes in the first round of their bout on Saturday. The shocking finish triggered a surprising retirement from an emotional Jalin Turner at just 29 years old.

Turner has now lost four of his last five fights since March of 2023. In that two-year stretch, Turner’s only victory came in December of 2023 against King Green. Jalin entered Saturday night’s fight ranked at #13 at lightweight while his foe was unranked.

The 2018 Contender Series alum pulled off a 5-fight win streak from 2020-2022 and looked extremely promising. If this is it for Turner, it’s been a great career and he’s done a lot in the most competitive division of the sport. I think it’s possible that Turner could fight again with the promotion as it seemed like he was extremely emotional when announcing his retirement. At 6’3″, with a 75.5″ reach, maybe Jalin could have a career resurgence at 170lbs.

Turner competed once at welterweight while in the UFC, losing to Vicente Luque in 2018. It could be a very different story if Turner revisited the weight class after taking a short hiatus from the sport to regain his fire. For his resurgence at welterweight an opponent like Li Jingliang would make a lot of sense. Li has lost three of his last four but to names like Khamzat Chimaev, Daniel Rodriguez and Carlos Prates. “The Leech” last fought in August of last year and would give up some size to Turner standing at 6’0 tall with a 72″ reach. Li is always in good scraps and has been with the UFC over a decade. At 36 years old he is a dangerous but beatable opponent for Jalin. Turner should give it one more shot, and moving up in weight would give him the best opportunity to do just that.

Turner’s next fight: Retirement or move up to 170lbs. and fight Li Jingliang

Iasmin Lucindo

Iasmin Lucindo turned in a lackluster performance Saturday on her way to a unanimous decision defeat against Amanda Lemos. It was a huge opportunity for the 23-year-old as it was her first appearance on a UFC main card.  Unfortunately, she just couldn’t put it together. Iasmin didn’t seem to have an answer for the veteran Saturday as she lost just the second fight of her UFC career, snapping a four fight win streak.

Lucindo entered the fight ranked at #7, Lemos was ranked at #5 in the women’s strawweight division.

Iasmin should fight Tabatha Ricci in her next bout. Ricci last competed in November when she lost against Xiaonan Yan. An earlier loser’s edition had Ricci taking on Marina Rodriguez. But Rodriguez has since been booked to take on Gillian Robertson on May 3rd. Ricci would be a great fight for Lucindo as both fighters are at similar stages in their UFC careers. Solid top 10 prospects that have suffered a few defeats and need to get back on track. Winner of this fight could be looking at a big name in the top 5-6 if they pull off a flashy finish.

Lucindo’s next fight: Tabatha Ricci 

King Green

At UFC 313 on Saturday, King Green was on the wrong side of a highlight reel finish courtesy of Mauricio Ruffy. The spinning wheel kick KO was a wild start to UFC 313’s main card. Green has not made it to the final bell in his last four losses. Green turns 39 in September and his 27-fight UFC stint are a mere loss away from the .500 mark. With a brutal stoppage like that, King, undoubtedly will need time to recover. When Green returns, revisiting the Jared Gordon matchup could be intriguing.

Green fought Gordon in April of 2023. But the fight ended in a no contest in the first round after an accidental clash of heads. It’s the only no contest Green has ever had in his professional MMA career. Green’s only other somewhat unresolved bout was a split draw to Lando Vannata in 2017. Green defeated Vannata by unaimous decision in 2020, when the two finally ran that fight back. Both of those bouts ended up winning fight of the night honors as well.

Gordon is 1-1 since fighting Green. In November of 2023, Jared stopped (and retired) Mark Madsen in the first round before dropping a split decision to Nasrat Haqparast last June. Gordon has had three bouts canceled in the nearly two years since he’s fought King. With one of the cancelled bouts being opposite of Green’s only win in the last four bouts (Jim Miller). UFC should run this one back for some guaranteed action between two fighters at around the same spot in their careers with the promotion. Whoever loses, especially if its ugly, could be a loss away from being cut with how crowded and competitive the division is.

Green’s next fight: Jared Gordon Rematch 

The post What’s Next: UFC 313 Losers appeared first on Cageside Press.

Then it came true.

“Honestly, I don’t know what’s happening. I’m kind of getting scared. I don’t know, maybe I got super powers,” Bahamondes joked with reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.

“I can see the future or something. I dream about this like a month ago, and I don’t know. I’m kind of getting scared.”

Bahamondes (17-5) did in fact submit Turner on Saturday night, but he didn’t think it’d be by triangle choke.

“Not really (a triangle), but it was a submission,” that Bahamondes pulled off in his dream.

“We got like an exchange, then we went to the floor, and then I got him in a submission and I submit him. Then I wake up and said oh I guess that’s how I’m going to win.”

Turner announced his retirement just minutes after losing the fight with Bahamondes which didn’t sit well with the winner. He felt compassion for his opponent, and hopes he doesn’t actually call it a career.

“Yeah I told him don’t do that. Don’t do that, come on, if you need help, if you need something, I’m here,” he said.

“If you need to come to Chicago and train so just to love it again I told him he could stay in my house. No problem. I’m open to help him, our team is open to help him. I just told him to go back home, just think about it, but please don’t do it. He pushed me to my best and make me so better. He’s still got a lot more to give to this sport.”

 

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 Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Ignacio Bahamondes above.

The post Ignacio Bahamondes Saw Submission Win In His Dreams, Hopes Turner Continues appeared first on Cageside Press.

Turner (14-8) had an opponent be able to look at him in the eyes for the first time in a long time at UFC 313. The 6’3 155er arrived in Las Vegas off a tough loss to Renato Moicano at UFC 300 last April. Having had a tough run as of recent following an impressive 4-fight win streak he hoped to get back to winning at UFC 313.

Bahamondes (16-5) was more than excited to get Turner as an opponent having called him out before. The also 6’3 lightweight brought his two-fight win streak to UFC 313 with finishes over Christo Giagos and most recently Manuel Torres at Noche UFC.

Round 1 both Turner and Bahamondes came out ready to go. Bahamondes attacked with leg kicks, which Turner clearly expected, as he countered many of them perfectly with strikes up top.

They clinched, but Bahamondes used it to drag Turner down on top of him. After a minute or so of grappling he snatched a beautiful triangle choke and forced the tap.

Bahamondes is the new hot name at 155 pounds while Turner now has to figure out where this loss leaves him in the division.

Official Result: Ignacio Bahamondes def. Jalin Turner via R1 SUB (Triangle), 2:29

The post Igancio Bahamondes Grabs R1 Triangle Finish Over Turner appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I love it. I love it. Since I got into the UFC I knew I was going to fight him. Just because he’s tall, I’m tall,” Bahamondes told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.

“Every day they were saying oh he’s the tallest in the division, and then the other commenter said oh what about Ignacio Bahamondes? He’s tall too. He’s 6’3 too! So I knew it was going to happen. I was ready for it.”

Bahamondes (16-5) actually wanted to fight Turner sooner than UFC 313.

“I thought it was going to be before. (At) Noche we asked for him. The fight (didn’t happen), but soon as I got out of the cage I talked to Sean Shelby,” he said.

“Told him Jalen Turner. He’s next. I want to be on the top 15”

Besides a big fight at UFC 313 Bahamondes has had a busy personal life. More specifically an addition to the Bahamondes family.

“My life is beautiful right now. I have my baby is going to be 7-months (on the) 9th. My wife she’s the best she’s the MVP of every camp. I’m so blessed I’m living my dream,” he said.

“Whenever I got back from Noche I think I didn’t (leave) the house for two weeks. It was so beautiful. It made me emotional because how much time I could spend with my kid. It’s something that men don’t talk (enough about). I always told me wife you got the hardest job in the world.”

Mom is the MVP, but dad life is for real.

“Nobody talk(s) about the dads. Like whenever they got to leave in the morning, leaving the kid and the wife, losing those beautiful times. (Missing) those beautiful times like whenever he started saying ‘papa’ whenever he started moving or doing something funny,” he said.

“It’s hard so having those times and being able to have time with my kid is the best thing that (ever) happened to me.”

 

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Watch the entire media day scrum with Ignacio Bahamondes above. He takes on Jalin Turner at UFC 313 on Saturday night.

The post Ignacio Bahamondes Knew He’d Fight Turner Eventually appeared first on Cageside Press.

“Life has been a roller coaster, definitely a roller coaster. I don’t like roller coasters, but it’s been one. I’m riding a good wave right now, so it’s all good,” Turner (14-8) said during Wednesday’s UFC 313 media day. Asked about the nature of that roller coaster, “outside, inside, revolving, around it. Not too much I really want to speculate on, but just to give you a gist, yeah, I’ve been going through it,” replied Turner, without getting into specifics.

Turner, a.k.a. “The Tarantula,” is a towering 155’er paired up with another lanky lightweight in Ignacio Bahamondes. Chile’s Bahamondes has had a hot hand of late, with two straight Performance of the Night bonuses. He’s got a full head of steam coming off Noche UFC in September, where he finished Manuel Torres.

“I feel like that was exactly what was in the mind’s of the matchmakers when this fight got put together,” Turner stated, asked about the booking. “I’m coming off of a layoff, he has all this hype, and I’m right here.”

In his almost one-year layoff, Turner has shored up his grappling game. As he noted, he started fighting at 18, while others have trained in various disciplines since childhood. He’s returning this Saturday to a very familiar arena, the T-Mobile in Las Vegas. It may not have all the comforts of home, but it’s familiar territory.

As Jalin Turner, who has fought at the Las Vegas venue seven times since joining the UFC in 2018, put it, “Vegas is dang near my second home. I’m going to have to move out here soon.” Yet despite having a pretty set routine after so many trips to Las Vegas, things are different ahead of UFC 313.

“This fight week has been different. This fight week my routine has been completely different, because my weight was really good. I got to enjoy more things, I was out hiking in nature a little bit more. It’s been fun. It’s been fun,” Turner told Cageside Press. “I’ve been gone for almost a year man, I just came back and I just wanted to soak up every moment of this. Being in front here, talking to you guys, I gotta realize, I’m about to be 30. I’m not going to be doing this for too much longer in my life, so I just want to enjoy it as much as possible, just soak up every single moment, because it’s going to be gone one day.”

Watch the full UFC 313 media day appearance by Jalin Turner above.

The post Jalin Turner Says He’s Having a “Different” Fight Week Ahead of UFC 313 appeared first on Cageside Press.

“Let them fight, I don’t care, I’m on the top 10. If the money’s right I would fight Paddy because he’s a easy fight,” Moicano told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum on Saturday night.

Moicano (19-5-1) refers to Bobby Green calling out Pimblett earlier in the night.

“I respect him I think he’s a fighter. Just a bad one. I definitely would fight him for the right money,” he said

Even if he loses out on the Pimblett fight Moicano did himself plenty of favors by coming back from getting dropped in his fight with Jalin Turner and then finishing it. He had his eyes on another lightweight bout on the main card.

“Specially today right, UFC 300, I know Charles Oliveira is fighting (Arman) Tsarukyan and probably the winner going to fight for the belt or be on the top 5. I want to fight the lose of Charles and Tsarukyan,” Moicano said.

“I want to fight in Brazil, I want to fight in London, I want to fight everywhere. So I will take one week off and then I will start calling for a fight. I want to fight.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Renato Moicano above.

The post Renato Moicano Would Fight Pimblett For The Right Money appeared first on Cageside Press.

Massive knockout artist Turner and Brazilian grappler “Money” Moicano had styles which clashed in a binary way.

Front kicks to the body seemed to hurt Moicano’s core early in the first round but he was able to clinch up with Turner and take him down, showing that Jalin still has issues with wrestling. Renato controlled the American easily from half-guard for three minutes until Turner got to the fence and wall-walked to his feet. They were fairly even on the feet for a while until Jalin stepped forward with a strong counter left that dropped Moicano badly, left him stumbling until the end of the round, and potentially won the round for him.

Moicano ducked for the legs early in rounds two but this time Turner stuffed it. However Renato kept marching forward with pressure and was able to land a double leg. He quickly passed to full mount and landed ground strikes before hunting an arm-triangle. Turner avoided it but then got hit in the face more as Moicano controlled him from three-quarter mount against the fence. Jalin tried to use the fence to get up but Renato turned him away and slid to half-guard. He passed back to mount and Turner put up no resistance except for slightly turning away as Moicano ground and pounded away, forcing the ref to step in as Jalin covered up helplessly.

Renato Moicano put on his usual brash, loud post-fight interview as he shouted out his new podcast and told Joe Rogan that the UFC commentator and millionaire podcaster could not refuse to be a guest.

Official Result: Renato Moicano def. Jalin Turner by TKO (ground and pound) Round 2, 4:11

The post UFC 300: Renato Moicano Overcomes Knockdown, Ground n’ Pounds Jalin Turner to Victory appeared first on Cageside Press.

“(It) was a surprise. I was expecting to fight in UFC 301 in Brazil or even on the PPV (in) London (in) Europe. I was expecting that because that would make sense,” Moicano told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.

“But guess what? They called me and I’m here.”

UFC 300 quickly became the premium card to be on with so many current and former champions fighting in Las Vegas. The UFC’s biggest card to date is one Moicano is glad to be taking part in.

“It’s a card that I want to be of course UFC 300. On the prelims several champions facing each other like Deiveson Figueiredo and Cody Garbrandt. I’m fighting on the same card. I wish was on the main event, main card, but it is what it is,” he said.

Moicano (18-5-1) had been hoping for a matchup with lightweight star Paddy Pimblett, but when that didn’t materialize he took the bout with Turner.

“Of course I wanted Paddy because on paper (it) was the easiest fight. More people know him so that’s what it’s about, but at the same time I don’t choose my opponents,” he said.

“I don’t have time to sit and wait. I’m 34-years-old, I have to fight, I have to get money, I want money UFC 300. Of course Dana White going to raise the bonus. I want the bonus too and let’s go.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Renato Moicano above. He takes on Jalin Turner at UFC 300 on Saturday night.

The post Renato Moicano Was Surprised To Get Called Up To UFC 300 appeared first on Cageside Press.