The UFC matchmakers added a lightweight banger to an already stacked card at UFC 313.
UFC 313, headlined by Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev, is weeks away from coming to fruition at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The card features the return of Pereira for his next light heavyweight title defense after making a strong case for ‘Fighter of the Year’ in 2024.
The UFC 313 co-main event features the return of fan favorites Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker in a Top 6 lightweight matchup. The winner could potentially be next in line for a title shot, depending on champion Islam Makhachev‘s next move.
Curtis Blaydes, King Green, and many other intriguing names return to the Octagon at UFC 313. The event is the UFC’s return to T-Mobile Arena for the first time since the start of the new year.
Ahead of UFC Vegas 102, and just weeks away from UFC 313, the promotion’s third pay-per-view of 2025 just got a huge boost in the form of two fan-favorite lightweights.
‘Banger’… UFC fans react to surprise addition to UFC 313 pay-per-view card
Lightweights Jalin Turner and Ignacio Bahamondes will reportedly clash in a short-notice bout at UFC 313.
The fight’s booking was first reported by ESPN Deportes‘ Carlos Contreras Legaspi on Friday. Neither Turner nor Bahamondes were originally slated to face alternate opponents at UFC 313 before Friday’s news.
UFC fans rejoiced after the news of the Turner vs. Bahamondes matchup broke online.
“Banger!” one fan posted.
“You love to see the lightweight division getting active in the new year!” another responded.
“That’s mad.”
“This is gonna be wild.”
“D— good fight to make that PPV a lil better, imagine it’s also an emergency backup for gaethje-hooker.”
“That’s a sick fight for as long as it lasts.”
“Jalin had reawakened for a banger.”
Turner returns to the Octagon for the first time since a loss to Renato Moicano at UFC 300 last April. Meanwhile, Bahamondes, a top teammate of UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, returns after wins in three of his last four fights.
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Jalin Turner and Ignacio Bahamondes battle for lightweight title contention
The addition of Turner vs. Bahamondes comes just days after a heavyweight matchup between Blaydes and Rizvan Kuniev was moved from UFC Seattle to UFC 313.
Bahamondes earned a wild TKO win over Manuel Torres at UFC 306 in September after a head-kick knockout of Christos Giagos last April. The former Dana White’s Contender Series standout will face the toughest test of his career in Turner, who has a dangerous ground game to go with impressive power with his striking.
The Turner vs. Bahamondes winner will move one step closer to a spot in the lightweight Top 10. The lightweight matchup is a solid pick for ‘Fight of the Night’ honors at UFC 313.
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