Soccer/Football

‘I almost quit’ – Fighter gets emotional after stunning retirement comeback at UFC 323

Dec 7, 2025 - 03:00

Jalin Turner came back with a bang at UFC 323 on Saturday night.

Turner, who hung up his gloves at just 29 years of age in March, returned to Dana White‘s promotion at UFC 323.

Jalin Turner punches Edson Barboza of Brazil in a lightweight fight during the UFC 323 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 06, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada — Turner bloodied Barboza up early with a damaging elbow to the head

Jalin Turner strikes Edson Barboza of Brazil in a lightweight fight during the UFC 323 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 06, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada — He finally stopped the Brazilian MMA veteran just before the midway point in round one

The now-30-year-old faced MMA veteran Edson Barboza on the prelims card at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

What happened in Jalin Turner vs Edson Barboza?

Turner cracked Barboza early and had him leaking blood from a nasty elbow to the side of his head.

Less than one minute into round one, ‘The Tarantula’ floored his Brazilian opponent with a knee followed by a quick series of nasty punches.

Barboza, who has fought the likes of Justin Gaethje, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson in his career, was on red alert as time ticked on.

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Turner put him down on one knee again before two minutes had passed, and the American went head hunting.

It was all but over just before the midway point when Turner continued landing combinations, prompting Barboza to hit the canvas for a third and final time.

Referee Herb Dean waved off the fight at two minutes and 24 seconds in the first round, and Turner was overcome with emotions when speaking to UFC commentator Joe Rogan after the fight.

Turner: I almost quit, but I’m back now, and it feels good

“I was really emotional because I almost quit,” Turner, who has now finished 11 of his 15 professional MMA wins via knockout, said.

“I almost gave up on my dreams. I stopped chasing. I stopped seeking, and it was so hard to go through that.”

“I’m back right now, and it feels so good.”

Edson Barboza of Brazil speaks with Jalin Turner following their lightweight fight during the UFC 323 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 06, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Turner was overcome with emotions after his win over Barboza, saying he was so close to giving up on his dreams[/caption]

Turner then told the Las Vegas crowd not to give up on their dreams, no matter what obstacles lay ahead of them.

Speaking on his decision to retire in March, the American revealed that he was telling himself not to fight before losing to Ignacio Bahamondes at UFC 313.

Turner was ranked No. 13 in the lightweight division ahead of his clash with Bahamondes, but tapped out to a triangle choke in the first round.

‘The Tarantula’ was already considering retirement after losing to Renato Moicano at UFC 300 and decided to pull the trigger after his defeat in March.

However, Turner is now back and seems to be on a redemption arc, having put on an impressive performance at UFC 323.

Elsewhere on the preliminary card, Chris Duncan stopped Terrance McKinney with a first-round anaconda choke, while Maycee Barber scored a unanimous decision win over Karine Silva.