Jalin Turner is back from his short-lived MMA retirement, intending to right some wrongs.
The 30-year-old UFC lightweight stunned fans in March when he announced his retirement following a turbulent stretch in which he lost four out of five bouts, including two controversial split decisions that could’ve propelled him to the edge of title contention. At the time, Turner said he lost his passion for fighting, choosing instead to focus on life outside the cage. Yet just weeks later, a chance encounter with another UFC contender reignited the fire he thought had burned out for good.
Now, Turner is back, set to face lightweight legend Edson Barboza on Dec. 7 at UFC 323 in Las Vegas.
“When I retired, I definitely didn’t have any aspirations to come back,” Turner said on Wednesday’s edition of “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “Wholeheartedly, I wanted to step away, didn’t want to think about fighting.
“The wild part is Ian [Machado] Garry’s camp asked me to come train with him for the Carlos Prates fight [in April]. I literally get up off the couch, I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’ll go do it. I’ll help him out.’ I go there, we train. Ian’s such a good guy. His wife, his family, the whole team, it was such a good atmosphere to be around. They kept telling me, ‘You’ll be back.’ No, I’m not. I’m not coming back. They’re like, ‘Dude, you’re talented. You’re good.’ Yeah, but I don’t feel it anymore. I don’t have that passion for it.”
Turner had been open about the mental and emotional exhaustion that came with competing in mixed martial arts at the highest level. Despite grinding out wins and competing in hard-fought battles against top-tier opponents, Turners career felt like it had hit a wall one he wasnt interested in climbing anymore. But training with Garry, one of the sports rising stars, changed that perspective.
“Being in Ian’s corner watching a fight, watching him fight, I was OK being out on the sidelines. Maybe I’ll start coaching. Do something along those lines,” Turner explained. “But that sparked me to get back in the gym. After that, I just started staying in the gym. Teaching guys in the gym, started getting more involved in the church, started helping so many people in church, and I started serving people.
“The more I started doing that, the more I started to see how God was working behind the scenes. Really just showing me a new way. I was like, ‘OK, Lord, open up a new door. I don’t want to go fight. That’s not what I want to do.’
“I was in prayer a lot, just good community, and I know God was like, ‘I need you in this atmosphere for now. I need you there for now. Go fight again.’
“I found the love for it again,” Turner continued. “I found the passion for it again.”
Turners return isnt driven by titles, rankings, or the promise of fame. Instead, he reiterated Wednesday, its fueled by the renewed sense of purpose he says he found through faith and community. His time away from the cage helped him reset not just as a fighter, but as a person and that clarity has shaped how he wants to approach the next chapter of his UFC career.
In his comeback, Turner is hoping for meaningful matchups rather than a run-of-the-mill opponent. He expressed interest in fighting established names legends who inspire him and represent the type of legacy he hopes to leave behind. Initially, former champion Charles Oliveira came to mind before he ultimately was offered Barboza.
That doesnt mean hes putting a cap on whats possible, though. “The Tarantula insists hes not done chasing big moments just doing so with a healthier mindset.
“No matter what ends up happening, I’m going to bounce back,” Turner said. “And no matter what the result is, I’m not retiring after this fight. People are like, ‘Are you going to retire?’ I’ve got three to four more years.”
For Turner, this next stretch represents a rebirth. The same passion that once felt like a burden has become a calling, he said one he plans to honor for as long as it lasts.