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After a 10-month hiatus from the sport, Jalin Turner just wanted to get back inside the Octagon. He cared little about who the Ultimate Fighting Championship found as a replacement for original UFC Fight Night 168 opponent Jamie Mullarkey, which is why he accepted a matchup with promotional newcomer Joshua Culibao this Saturday in Auckland, New Zealand with little knowledge of him beforehand.
“I was like, ‘I’ll fight anybody.’ I didn’t care who they put in front of me. I just wanted to get in there and get my hand raised,” Turner said. “All I’ve been thinking about is fighting, fighting, fighting. I did look him up right after [accepting the fight]. I asked around about him. I know a couple of people out there [in Australia]. It was easy to get a little bit of information. He’s an all-around fighter. He’ll bring the fight, [and] he’s tough. It’s going to be a fun night.”
In this exclusive interview with Sherdog.com, Turner discussed his forthcoming bout, his April loss to Matt Frevola and the lessons he learned in defeat, along with his 12-hour flight to New Zealand and trying to avoid a weight cut on the trip. He also addressed his 6-foot-3 frame—unusually tall for a lightweight—and the idea of prepared meals being a saving grace while training.
