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Jalin Turner, a promising UFC lightweight contender, recently made headlines by praising his upcoming opponent Mateusz Gamrot for stepping up to fight him on a pay-per-view event. The two fighters are set to face off at UFC 285, which is scheduled to take place later this year.
Dan Hooker, who was supposed to be Turner's challenger for the UFC 285 event on March 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, pulled because of a broken hand. Turner, who seemed to be determined to remain on the board, received a possibly much great fit in higher-ranked lightweight Gamrot, who according to Turner is the only opponent that accepted the challenge.
“I’m just happy he stepped up, somebody stepped up,” Turner told MMA Junkie. “I wanted to stay on the card. I could have sat back and waited for somebody else on another card, but I was like – I just wanted to stay on 285 so, they made it happen.”
He continued, “He’s the only one that stepped up. Nobody else wanted to fight me on this card. They didn’t want that three-week notice fight, so I took the challenge.”
The matchup between Turner and Gamrot is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both fighters possessing the ability to finish the fight with strikes or submissions. The fight is also important for both men in terms of their rankings and prospects in the division.
“He’s a good opponent,” Turner said. “He’s going to come in, try to shoot, try to wrestle. I already kind of expected that from Dan (Hooker) a little bit, so I was a little bit prepared. It’s just another fight. I’m ready to take on whoever wants to step up and I always showcase it every time.”
For Turner, a win over Gamrot would be a significant boost to his career and could potentially lead to bigger and better opportunities in the UFC. For Gamrot, a victory over Turner would solidify his status as a rising star in the division and potentially set him up for a top-five matchup.
Overall, the matchup between Turner and Gamrot is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing fights on the UFC 285 card. With both fighters possessing elite skills and a hunger to win, fans can expect a thrilling contest that could potentially produce a future title contender in the lightweight division.