Born in San Bernardino, California, Turner attended Summit High School and has described that he grew up in a rough neighbourhood. In high school he was unable to play much sports such as football, basketball or track and field due to multiple injuries.[4] Having the most talent in wrestling, Turner took up the sport during the pre-season of his sophomore year, but was unable to compete that season due to a broken finger.[5] Frustrated by the recurring injuries, he started watching MMA bouts on television, which inspired him to try and practice the sport.[6] With little money as a teenager and unable to afford combat training equipment, he would run and shadow box and used his family couch as a punching bag, until he joined Team Adrenaline which kickstarted his mixed martial arts career.[6] Growing up, Turner was arachnophobic, and to overcome that fear, he began to collect tarantulas as pets. When he made his UFC debut he had 200 of them, earning his ring nickname "The Tarantula".[7] At UFC Vegas 10 Turner had his official weight taken while holding a tarantula in his left hand.[8]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
After compiling an amateur record of 5–2, Turner started his professional MMA career since 2016 and fought primarily in his home state of California. He amassed a record of 7–3, with two-fight winning streak including a technical knockout win against Noah Tillis in Bellator 192, before being signed by the UFC.[9]
In a September 2018 interview with UFC, Turner said he held a purple belt in jiu-jitsu.[10] In January 2022, Compex, a corporate sponsor, reported Jalin was a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.[11]
Turner made his UFC debut against Vicente Luque on October 6, 2018 at UFC 229,[14] losing by knockout in the first round.[15]
In his second UFC fight Turner was scheduled to face Alex Gorgees at UFC 234.[16] However, on January 23, 2019, it was reported that Gorgees had pulled out of the fight,[17] and was replaced by Callan Potter.[18] Turner won the fight via knockout in the first round.[19]
Turner was scheduled to face Jamie Mullarkey on February 23, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 168.[22] However Mullarkey was forced to withdraw from the bout due to injury and he was replaced by Joshua Culibao.[23] Turner won the fight via TKO in the second round.[24]
Turner was scheduled to face Thiago Moisés on September 5, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 176.[25] However, on September 5, 2020, Moisés tested positive for COVID-19 and the bout against Turner was cancelled.[26] In turn, Turner was quickly rescheduled and faced Brok Weaver on September 12, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 177.[27] After knocking Weaver down multiple times, Turner won the fight via a rear–naked choke submission in round two.[28]
In January 2024, Turner attained his highest ranking at #9 in the UFC lightweight division.[29]
Turner faced Uroš Medić on September 25, 2021 at UFC 266.[30] He won the fight via rear naked choke in round one.[31]
Turner was scheduled to face Dan Hooker on March 4, 2023, at UFC 285.[37] However, Hooker was forced to withdraw from the event, citing a hand injury,[38] and he was replaced by Mateusz Gamrot.[39] In a closely contested bout where Gamrot employed his wrestling to combat Turner’s reach advantage, Turner lost by split decision.[40]
Turner faced Dan Hooker on July 8, 2023 at UFC 290.[41] At the weigh-ins Turner weighed in at 158 pounds, 2 pounds over the non-title lightweight limit. As a result, the bout proceeded as a catchweight and Turner was fined 20% of his fight purse, which went to Hooker.[42] In a back and forth bout, Turner came out losing the bout via split decision.[43]
Turner faced Renato Moicano on April 13, 2024, at UFC 300.[47] Despite scoring an early knockdown, Turner lost the fight via TKO in the second round.[48]
