LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Another fight, another City Kickboxing opponent for Jalin Turner’s UFC lightweight only this time is Dan Hooker at UFC 290 Saturday night.
The problem is, Turner loves these guys, and he plans to go out there and train with them. Until this battle arose.
“Dan is a vet. I’ve watched him for a long time. It would be an honor to fight him, and yes the style excites me,” Turner told reporters, including Kegsside Press on Wednesday.
“I expect him to stand up and strike, but you know, in case there are some grappling exchanges, I’ll be ready there. We’re going to put up some fireworks. It was the Fourth of July yesterday, so now we’re going to put up some fireworks on Saturday.”
Going into the fight with Hooker, knowing he would have loved to go train with his team in New Zealand, was actually a little difficult for Turner.
“Yeah, but at the end of the day it’s just work. I gotta go do my job, but yeah man like I said I’ve been following Team City Kickboxing for a while. I watched Izzy (Adesanya) before he got into the UFC. It’s all love. I don’t have No hostility or dislike towards them. “It’s just the way the business is done,” he said.
With his victory at UFC 290, Turner is looking to make a huge ratings jump. Not top 10, but top 5.
“I’m definitely looking forward to the top 5 after this. I think they put someone else in the top 10 so I like everything he can get. I win this fight I’m looking at the top 5. Whoever wants to let me in, let me in, “He said.
Watch the entire Media Day with Jalin Turner above. He faces Dan Hooker at UFC 290 Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena.