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Jalin Turner, a UFC lightweight contender, is close to signing a deal to fight Dan Hooker at UFC 285 when he returns to the Octagon.
During a recent interview with InsideFighting, Turner revealed the details of his upcoming battle.
After a rocky start to his UFC career, Turner has climbed into the lightweight ranks with five straight victories. At UFC 276 he most recently submitted Brad Riddell.
In 2018 a doctor's stoppage victory earned Turner a contract on Dana White's Contender Series. Six of his previous seven fights have been victories after switching to lightweight at UFC 234.
Hooker will get his wish to face a top lightweight if Turner's fight claim is successful. Following his victory against Claudio Puelles at UFC 281, Hooker started a division-wide callout for his subsequent contest.
It was Hooker's first victory since September 2021 vs Puelles. Hooker's UFC career was unclear after a submission loss to Islam Makhachev and a disastrous featherweight debut against Arnold Allen.
Hooker had hoped to make a comeback for UFC 284 in Perth, but it now seems unlikely.
Turner vs. Hooker would round out a strong UFC 285 night. The main event is Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight belt.