Welcome to Midnight Mania!
29-year-old Lightweight knockout artist Jalin Turner retired last weekend (Sat., March 8, 2025) after a UFC 313 loss to Ignacio Bahamondes. “The Tarantula” started the fight well enough, but he fell into a triangle choke after a couple minutes of top control (video). He didn’t do much to escape, suffering his second consecutive submission loss in an upset defeat.
Turner left his gloves in the cage to signal his retirement. His team mates and coaches tried to persuade him against the move, but backstage, Turner revealed that the fire was gone after eight years as a professional MMA fighter. In a recent social media update, Turner expressed his gratitude for the support and confirmed he still plans to step away from combat sports.
“Thank you for all the love and support,” he wrote on Instagram. “I started training mma at 18 in 2013 I started training in my backyard, a SoCal, LA born, IE raised kid with no path and a big dream. God opened the door to MMA when I didn’t know where else to go. I gave myself 4 years to fight in a big promotion and I did then the 5th year I got to the UFC in 2018Made it to the top 10 in the toughest division. I made it in a video game. Looking back It doesn’t feel real. I love you all. I’m sorry I lost my focus and fire earlier than ever expected. 29 years young time is on my good side. I wish I could reply to everyone’s messages. Just know all the positivity has helped me more than you all know I appreciate it all!”
He didn’t completely close the door to fighting again, however. Turner concluded his post by writing, “Things can change … We’ll see what the future holds.”
It’s a common occurrence for fighters to retire after a loss and return sooner than later. MMA is a frustrating sport filled with extreme highs and lows, and many athletes live and die by the final outcome. As appealing as walking away can sound after a defeat, the combination of lifestyle and financial perks of being a top-level UFC fighter draw many back in.
We’ll just have to wait and see what Turner does next.
Insomnia
One of the many great Nick Diaz clips resurfaced on my feed. Soak in the wisdom:
“In order to love fighting I have to hate it. There’s no love in this w/o hate. You gotta love it so you want it so bad that you’re pushing yourself to those limits where you just simply hate. And if you ain’t there, to where you hate it, then good luck trying to love this shit.” pic.twitter.com/J3mDxHwbgy
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) March 11, 2025
Who’s everyone got in the eventual Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia rematch?
Devin Haney: “You tested positive”
Ryan Garcia: “Steroids don’t help you block a left hook, you got hit like a thousand times”
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) March 11, 2025
I have nothing against The Fighting Nerds, they’re the most fun team in MMA by far right now. But, they also aren’t undefeated …
This is definitely a Muay Thai foot sweep more than Judo throw, but it is very funny that Alex Pereira scored the only real takedown at UFC 313.
Conor McGregor is ready to BREAK STUFF!
Dan Hooker made it into a TikTok video.
I’m disappointed in myself that I didn’t see this clip when it happened. There’s only one Jiri Prochazka …
Slips, rips, and KO clips
An incredible wheel kick:
Bare knuckle swanging-and-banging!
More than any other boxer, I always tune in for Marvin Hagler clips.
Random Land
NBA history.
Midnight Music: Indie, 2020
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
