Jalin Turner all smiles after ‘bittersweet’ victory

AUSTIN, Texas – Jalin Turner grew up in the identical space of California as Bobby Green, which is what made the lead-up to his win Saturday a bit more difficult.

Within the UFC on ESPN 52 co-main occasion at Moody Heart, Turner (14-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) brutalized Inexperienced (31-15-1 MMA, 12-10-1 UFC) by way of an elongated (and controversial) sequence till referee Kerry Hatley stepped in and stopped the combat. It’s all enterprise, on the finish of the day.

“On the finish of the day, it’s bittersweet as a result of me and Bobby come from the identical space,” Turner informed MMA Junkie and different reporters at a post-fight information convention. “We grew up in the identical space and that’s what made it powerful. However on the finish of the day, it’s additionally enterprise and also you’ve received to see the enterprise alternatives.

“I’m a businessman, an unbiased contractor, so I’ve received to go deal with enterprise when it’s attended to me. They put me within the place as a result of they knew I’ve received the title now. I’ve received a bit hype. I all the time go and placed on a present. I’m a businessman. I deal with what I’ve to do for the promotion. Look what occurred.”

Inexperienced was wobbly as he ultimately rose to his toes and shook fingers with Turner. He attended the official resolution studying however has but to remark concerning the defeat or his standing post-fight.

From what Turner gathered, Inexperienced was OK – all issues thought of.

“The ref, he simply didn’t see. … I don’t know, bro. I don’t know what to name it,” Turner mentioned. “He simply waited till Bobby was out. Bobby is hard. Bobby is a extremely powerful fighter. After I was punching him, he was defending them, and he was shifting. He was nonetheless a bit coherent. I used to be like, ‘Dang.’ I used to be like, ‘Possibly this ought to be stopped. Possibly not.’ I’m not going to cease till you pull me off as a result of it’s him or me. If he had gotten his bearings about him, he may’ve gotten again on prime or one thing loopy. It’s what it’s. He was wholesome. He was good. He was coherent afterward. We had good phrases, so I used to be glad he was in respectable well being. So it’s what it’s.”

Turner, 28, snapped a two-fight dropping skid with the combat which he took on 9 days’ discover. As for what’s subsequent, Turner isn’t positive.

“I’m making an attempt to include myself as a result of I need to do a backflip proper now as a result of I’m so hyped,” Turner mentioned. “My son’s birthday is on the finish of this month, in order that was a giant win for me. I need to throw him a pleasant get together and shut out the yr correctly and simply concentrate on 2024.”

Turner received a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for his finish, so his son’s birthday bash may go to the following stage.

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