Turner blasts Green with 1st-round KO in short-notice bout

Jalin Turner made a huge statement in the UFC Austin co-main event.

The No. 12-ranked lightweight knocked out Bobby Green at the 2:49 mark of the first round Saturday night.

Turner wobbled Green with a hard right hand before sending him to the canvas with another right. Turner immediately jumped on Green, who was flat on his stomach, and rained down several ground-and-pound shots to force the stoppage.

The commentators criticized referee Kerry Hatley for letting Green take so many punches.

Turner accepted the fight on short notice after Dan Hooker withdrew from the original co-headliner against Green due to injury.

"The Tarantula" is right back in the mix at 155 pounds. He was considered one of the most promising up-and-comers in the UFC lightweight division before losing two straight to begin his 2023 campaign.

Turner lost split decisions to Mateusz Gamrot and Hooker in March and July, respectively. He had won five straight - all stoppages - before the slump. This was the 28-year-old's first victory since July 2022.

Green was enjoying somewhat of a breakthrough year heading into his fourth fight since April. The 37-year-old upset Grant Dawson via a 33-second knockout in an October main event after submitting former interim champ Tony Ferguson in July. Green has been in the UFC since 2013 but had never been closer to legitimate contender status after those two wins. He closes 2023 with a 2-1 (1 NC) record.