Green to face Turner in UFC Austin co-main event with Hooker out
Top-15 lightweight Jalin Turner has stepped in on short notice to face Bobby Green in the UFC Austin co-headliner Dec. 2, UFC CEO Dana White announced Thursday.
Turner is replacing Dan Hooker, who withdrew from the matchup against Green earlier this week after breaking his arm in training. Green-Turner will be three rounds instead of five.
Turner will look to secure his first win of 2023 against Green. The 28-year-old lost consecutive split decisions in fights with Hooker and Mateusz Gamrot earlier this year. Before the slump, Turner was on track to become a title contender at 155 pounds with five straight stoppage victories.
Green is riding a two-fight winning streak, most recently stunning Grant Dawson with a 33-second knockout in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card in October. Green submitted former interim champion Tony Ferguson in July.
Turner and Green are ranked Nos. 12 and 13 in the lightweight division, respectively.
A pivotal 155-pound clash will headline UFC Austin, as Beneil Dariush looks to bounce back against Arman Tsarukyan.