Jalin Turner is an American professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC lightweight division.
Nicknamed “The Tarantula,” Turner is one of the tallest and longest fighters in the division, standing 6’3″ with a reach listed around 76 to 77 inches depending on the source.
He holds a professional MMA record of 15-9 and has never needed the judges to earn a professional victory.
All 15 of Turner’s wins have come by knockout, TKO or submission.
After briefly appearing to retire in 2025, he returned later that year with a first-round stoppage of Edson Barboza and is now scheduled to face Kauê Fernandes at UFC 330.
Jalin Turner Fighter Information
| Stats | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jalin Jacob Turner |
| Nickname | The Tarantula |
| Born | May 18, 1995 |
| Birthplace | San Bernardino, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6’3″ / 191 cm |
| Reach | Approx. 76-77″ / 192-196 cm |
| Division | Lightweight |
| Record | 15-9-0 |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Fighting Style | Striking / Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| BJJ Rank | Brown Belt |
| Team/Gym | Carlson Gracie Riverside / RVCA Training Center |
| @thetarantula |
What Is Jalin Turner Known For?
Turner is known for his unusual size at lightweight, dangerous finishing ability and the nickname “The Tarantula.”
At 6’3″, he is much taller than the average lightweight.
His reach and southpaw stance allow him to attack opponents from long range with straight punches, kicks and knees.
He is also a dangerous submission threat.
Turner has 11 knockout or TKO victories and four submission wins.
Most importantly, all 15 of his professional victories have come by stoppage.
Where Was Jalin Turner Born?
Jalin Turner was born on May 18, 1995, in San Bernardino, California.
He attended Summit High School in Fontana and has spoken about growing up in a difficult neighborhood.
Turner struggled to participate consistently in traditional sports because of injuries.
He tried wrestling in high school but suffered another injury before he could fully compete.
Those setbacks eventually pushed him toward mixed martial arts.
How Did He Start Training MMA?
Turner became interested in MMA after watching fights on television.
Money was limited during his teenage years, so he initially trained however he could.
He would run, shadow box and even use his family’s couch as a makeshift punching bag.
Eventually, Turner joined Team Adrenaline and began training properly.
He later developed into a professional fighter and made his MMA debut in 2016.
Why Is Jalin Turner Called The Tarantula?
Turner’s nickname has one of the more unusual stories in the UFC.
He grew up with arachnophobia, meaning he was afraid of spiders.
Instead of avoiding that fear, Turner decided to confront it.
He began collecting tarantulas as pets.
By the time he made his UFC debut, Turner reportedly owned around 200 tarantulas.
That obsession led to the nickname “The Tarantula.”
He has even appeared at an official UFC weigh-in holding a tarantula.
What Is Jalin Turner’s Fighting Style?
Turner is a long, powerful southpaw striker with a dangerous submission game.
His height gives him an unusual advantage at lightweight.
He uses straight punches, long kicks and knees to punish opponents entering range.
Turner also carries real knockout power.
Eleven of his 15 professional wins have come by knockout or TKO.
His grappling is equally important.
He holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has finished opponents with rear-naked chokes, a guillotine and a triangle choke.
That combination makes him dangerous whether a fight stays standing or goes to the ground.
Is Jalin Turner a BJJ Brown Belt?
Yes.
Turner holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Earlier in his UFC career he was listed as a purple belt before later progressing to brown belt level.
His grappling ability has produced several important victories.
Turner submitted Uros Medic with a rear-naked choke and finished Brad Riddell with a guillotine in only 45 seconds.
Where Does Jalin Turner Train?
Turner has been associated with Carlson Gracie Riverside.
He has also trained at the RVCA Training Center and has earlier ties to Adrenaline Combat Sports.
His training background reflects both sides of his fighting style.
Turner has developed strong striking while also becoming an accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner.
How Did Jalin Turner Get Into the UFC?
Turner earned his opportunity through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018.
He faced Max Mustaki and won by first-round TKO.
The performance led to his UFC opportunity.
Turner made his promotional debut against Vicente Luque at UFC 229 in October 2018.
He was competing at welterweight for that fight and lost by first-round knockout.
Turner later returned to lightweight, where he eventually found much greater success.
What Are His Biggest UFC Wins?
Turner has earned several impressive victories during his UFC career.
He submitted Uros Medic with a rear-naked choke in the first round in 2021.
He then stopped Jamie Mullarkey by TKO before submitting Brad Riddell in only 45 seconds at UFC 276.
The Riddell finish earned Turner a Performance of the Night bonus.
Another major victory came against Bobby Green in December 2023.
Turner accepted the fight on short notice and knocked Green out in the first round.
That performance earned him another Performance of the Night bonus.
What Happened Against Dan Hooker?
Turner faced Dan Hooker at UFC 290 in July 2023.
The fight became a competitive three-round battle.
Turner had success early, but Hooker survived and fought his way back into the contest.
Turner eventually lost by split decision.
The fight later received recognition from UFC.com as one of the best fights of 2023.
It also showed that Turner could compete in a hard, extended fight even though his own victories almost always come by stoppage.
Did Jalin Turner Retire?
Turner appeared to retire after losing to Ignacio Bahamondes at UFC 313 in March 2025.
After the first-round submission loss, Turner left his gloves inside the Octagon, a gesture traditionally associated with retirement.
However, the retirement did not last.
Turner returned later that year.
Why Did Jalin Turner Come Back?
Turner made his UFC return against veteran striker Edson Barboza at UFC 323 in December 2025.
The comeback could hardly have gone better.
Turner stopped Barboza with punches in the first round at 2:24.
The victory moved his professional record to 15-9 and immediately reestablished him as a dangerous lightweight.
It was especially notable because Barboza is one of the most accomplished strikers in UFC history.
What Is Jalin Turner’s MMA Record?
Turner holds a professional MMA record of 15 wins and nine losses.
His victories include:
- 11 knockouts or TKOs
- 4 submissions
- 0 decisions
That means 100% of Turner’s professional victories have come by finish.
He has never won a professional MMA fight by decision.
Has Jalin Turner Fought at Welterweight?
Yes.
Turner competed at welterweight earlier in his career, including his UFC debut against Vicente Luque.
He later moved to lightweight and established himself as a ranked fighter in the division.
Turner reached as high as No. 9 in the UFC lightweight rankings in January 2024.
His 6’3″ frame makes him exceptionally tall for a lightweight.
Why Is Jalin Turner So Tall for Lightweight?
Turner stands 6’3″, which is unusually tall for the 155-pound division.
That size gives him a significant range advantage against many opponents.
His reach has been listed between approximately 75.5 and 77 inches depending on the source.
Turner combines that reach with a southpaw stance, making his straight punches and long-range attacks difficult to navigate.
His size can also create unusual leverage during submission attempts.
Who Is Jalin Turner Fighting Next?
Turner is scheduled to face Kauê Fernandes at UFC 330 on August 15, 2026.
The fight takes place at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Turner enters the matchup following his successful return against Edson Barboza.
Another victory would give him consecutive wins following his short-lived retirement and could push him back toward the upper levels of the lightweight division.
Why Does Jalin Turner Stand Out?
Turner is one of the most unusual fighters in the UFC lightweight division.
He stands 6’3″, fights southpaw, holds a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt and has finished every opponent he has defeated professionally.
Then there is the nickname.
A fighter who once feared spiders eventually collected hundreds of tarantulas and turned that fear into part of his identity.
His combination of physical size, knockout power, submissions and personality makes “The Tarantula” one of the most recognizable lightweights on the UFC roster.
Jalin Turner FAQs
Who is Jalin Turner?
Jalin Turner is an American professional MMA fighter who competes in the UFC lightweight division.
What is Jalin Turner’s full name?
His full name is Jalin Jacob Turner.
What is Jalin Turner’s nickname?
His nickname is “The Tarantula.”
Why is Jalin Turner called The Tarantula?
Turner was afraid of spiders when he was younger and began collecting tarantulas to overcome his fear. He eventually owned around 200 of them.
When was Jalin Turner born?
He was born on May 18, 1995.
Where was Jalin Turner born?
He was born in San Bernardino, California, United States.
What is Jalin Turner’s record?
Turner has a professional MMA record of 15-9-0.
How tall is Jalin Turner?
Turner is 6 feet 3 inches tall, or approximately 191 cm.
What is Jalin Turner’s reach?
His reach is listed at approximately 76 to 77 inches, depending on the source.
What stance does Jalin Turner use?
Turner fights from a southpaw stance.
What is Jalin Turner’s fighting style?
Turner combines long-range striking with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling.
What BJJ belt does Jalin Turner have?
He holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Where does Jalin Turner train?
Turner has been associated with Carlson Gracie Riverside and the RVCA Training Center.
What is Jalin Turner’s Instagram?
His Instagram is @thetarantula.
Has Jalin Turner ever won by decision?
No. All 15 of his professional victories have come by knockout, TKO or submission.
Did Jalin Turner retire?
Turner appeared to retire after his loss to Ignacio Bahamondes in March 2025, but later returned to UFC competition.
Who did Jalin Turner fight after coming out of retirement?
He returned against Edson Barboza in December 2025 and won by first-round TKO.
Who is Jalin Turner fighting next?
Turner is scheduled to face Kauê Fernandes at UFC 330 on August 15, 2026.
