Jalin Turner hung up his gloves after a crushing loss to Ignacio Bahamondes at UFC 313. Following the heartbreaking defeat, ‘The Tarantula’ poured his heart out in a long Instagram post, reflecting on his journey and admitting, “Sorry I lost my focus earlier than ever expected,” while ending his statement with, “We’ll see what the future holds.” Although it was a deeply touching post, fans felt his words were driven more by emotion than by a well-thought-out, calculated decision.

After 10 months of retirement, one of the lightweight division’s most exciting strikers decided to make a comeback, and he’ll be taking on Edson Barboza at UFC 323. Naturally, the 30-year-old has faced doubts over whether he can actually make this second chance count. Still, a win over the Brazilian could be a solid start. But, before diving into the pros and cons of his next fight, let’s take a look at Turner’s lackluster journey that actually pushed him toward retirement in the first place.   

Jalin Turner’s lackluster run in the UFC  

From 2020 to 2022, ‘The Tarantula’ was on fire in the UFC. In just two years, Jalin Turner racked up a five-fight winning streak, taking on solid contenders like Josh Culibao, Jamie Mullarkey, and Brad Riddell, finishing all of them in the process. For a brief moment, the Californian looked like the next big thing in the lightweight division. However, after that glorious run, something changed, and his UFC career went downhill.  

At UFC 285, Turner got edged out by Mateusz Gamrot, who walked away with a split-decision win. After that, he suffered the same fate in a barn burner against Dan Hooker at UFC 290, which also ended in another close split decision loss. Then, out of nowhere, ‘The Tarantula’ created a highlight reel by repeatedly striking an already unconscious King Green at UFC Fight Night: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan in 2023. Just when people thought he had finally made a brief comeback, another downfall was waiting for him.

Jalin Turner faced Renato Moicano at UFC 300, a fight that could’ve actually decided the trajectory of the lightweight division for both fighters. While starting out strong, Turner let go of a crucial moment in the fight where he had Moicano hurt and a clear window to finish him. That proved detrimental as he eventually fell victim to the Brazilian’s impeccable grappling. Then disappointment hit all over again when he lost at UFC 313 against up-and-comer Ignacio Bhamondes. At the moment, it became too much to handle, and Turner decided to retire after his lackluster run in the UFC.

‘The Tarantula’ told Sportsnet in an interview that he had already made up his mind to retire after losing to Moicano. But his last loss to Bahamondes actually became the nail in the coffin. Yet, the 30-year-old Californian decided he didn’t want his MMA story to end with a 1-4 record, so he’s chosen to make a comeback, taking on a legend who could actually set his career back on a promising path.   

Why a win over Edson Barboza could be the turning point 

After such a lackluster run, Jalin Turner will need some confidence to get back to the form he once had. Truth be told, at one point, he actually broke into the top 10 of the shark-infested lightweight division, which he even mentioned in his retirement Instagram post. So, he has some credibility that might need a little boost at UFC 323, and Edson Barboza seems like the perfect opponent.

Although the Brazilian might be past his prime, currently on a two-fight losing streak, Barboza’s status as one of the most legendary strikers in UFC history still deserves recognition. After all, he still gives Justin Gaethje some terrible nightmares. So, if Turner manages to score a win over such a well-reputed opponent in his comeback, it could instantly bring his confidence back.

It would also be a striker vs. striker matchup that typically favors ‘The Tarantula,’ although the assignment isn’t easy. From there, the Californian would only have to ensure that his grappling is on point. Then, Turner could start climbing back toward the lightweight rankings by taking on some exciting top-15 opponents waiting for him. 

What the future might hold for ‘The Tarantula’ after UFC 323 

Now, assuming Jalin Turner actually defeats Edson Barboza in the last PPV event under the ESPN era, it would definitely open doors to some stellar matchups in the future. Looking at the top 15 lightweight rankings, fellow Fighting Nerds member Mauricio Ruffy currently holds the 15th spot, and that fight could make a perfect card opener for next year’s Paramount marquee events.

If that matchup doesn’t come to fruition, a fight against Grant Dawson could also steal some serious attention. These are the kind of exciting fights Turner could find himself in if he wins at UFC 323. However, if he loses at this stage of his career, things could get a little tricky. After one more loss, he’ll have racked up three losses in a row, and that’s something Dana White usually doesn’t forgive. 

So, as the possibility of him getting cut from the UFC looms large, there’s still a chance he could get one more opportunity, depending on whether the loss comes controversially or not. And that will ultimately be decided when he finally steps inside the Octagon against his opponent at the T-Mobile Arena. 

That said, as Jalin Turner makes his long-awaited return, do you think he can actually bring his lost mojo back? Let us know in the comments below.