LAS VEGAS – Jalin Turner was motivated after prepping with a top UFC welterweight contender.
Turner (15-9 MMA, 8-6 UFC) successfully returned from retirement when he stopped Edson Barboza in the first round of their lightweight bout this past Saturday at UFC 323. The win snapped Turner’s two-fight losing skid.
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The 30-year-old was brought in by Ian Machado Garry for his training camp against Carlos Prates, which he credits for helping to re-ignite his love for MMA.
“When I went to go help Ian Garry, it was so good,” Turner told MMA Junkie and other reporters during the UFC 323 post-fight news conference. “Being around his family, being around his team, feeling the love that was radiating from everybody. He was driving, doing all this stuff, having a blast, his son is awesome. It just showed me a light. They really told me I should just put away all the distractions because I’m too talented and too good to hang it up now.”
Turner leaned on his faith to help guide him back to the octagon, and now he hopes this new path can continue yielding results.
“I’m enjoying every fight, every moment,” Turner said. “One fight at a time, one moment at a time. I am excited to see how much further I can get into this career, in this division with the relationship with God now.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Jalin Turner praises Ian Machado Garry for UFC 323 win
