Former UFC star Jalin Turner has ended his retirement and is targeting a return to the Octagon in 2026.
Fans, pundits and fellow fighters were stunned when then-UFC lightweight Jalin Turner announced he was retiring from fighting after a loss to Ignacio Bahamondes at UFC 313. Turner, then just 29 years old, cited a lack of passion for training and the sport as a whole as major reasons for his decision to walk away.
Turner was once considered a potential future UFC champion by Joe Rogan and other experts. But a recent losing skid thwarted Turner’s title ambitions and knocked him out of the Top 15 lightweight rankings.
Just months after his UFC 313 announcement, Turner has adopted his previous retirement policy and is focusing on a return to the cage.
Jalin Turner returns to the UFC lightweight mix after a surprise retirement at UFC 313
Turner has been sharing impressive training session clips on his Instagram page in recent days. After a follower asked if he was plotting a comeback, Turner replied that he was “waiting for the call” from matchmakers for a lightweight fight.
Turner seems to be in a great space mentally, physically and emotionally in this new chapter of his life. During his previous loss, Turner endured several visibly brutal weight cuts, including a botched cut prior to his fight with Dan Hooker at UFC 290.
Turner hasn’t won since a knockout win over Bobby Green in Austin in December 2023. He has defeated the likes of Brad Riddell, Jamie Mullarkey and Uros Medic during his UFC stint.
Amid Turner’s comeback teases, several online sleuths discovered that Turner’s fighting profile was reactivated on the UFC’s official website. He could potentially return at UFC 322 or UFC 323 by the end of the year if an opportunity presents itself on short notice.
This is a developing story and we will continue to update you on Turner’s comeback as details become available.
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