UFC 276 Prelims: Jalin Turner Earns Fifth Straight Finish, Submits Brad Riddell

Jalin Turner IS A CHEAT CODE AT 155 pic.twitter.com/beaokmx2iQ

— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) July 3, 2022

Jalin Turner is making a move in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight division.

The former Dana White’s Contender Series competitor earned his fifth straight finish in the Octagon, submitting City Kickboxing product Brad Riddell with a guillotine choke in their UFC 276 preliminary clash at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night. “The Tarantula” forced Riddell to tap 45 seconds into Round 1.

Riddell never had a chance to get going. The rangy Turner rocked his foe with a right hand to the temple during an initial exchange, which forced Riddell (10-3, 4-2 UFC) to shoot for a takedown out of desperation. Turner (13-5, 6-2 UFC) stuffed the shot and locked in a guillotine, moving to full mount in the process. Turner needed a few seconds to connect his hands and once he did, Riddell had no choice but to tap.

Miller Gets Revenge, Taps Cerrone

Nearly eight years removed from their first fight, Jim Miller got revenge against Donald Cerrone.

In a matchup of two of the most long-tenured veterans in promotion history, Miller capitalized on a small opening for a submission victory against the popular “Cowboy” in a welterweight scrap. Miller forced his opponent to tap to a guillotine at the 1:32 mark of Round 2. Miller’s 16 finishes in the Octagon are tied for the second most in UFC history, while his 24 victories rank No. 1 all-time. Cerrone defeated Miller via second-round knockout in their first meeting at UFC Fight Night 45 on July 16, 2014.

Both men had their moments in the opening stanza. Cerrone (36-17, NC, 23-14, 1 NC UFC) used his reach to land a variety of kicks until Miller (35-16, 24-15 1 NC UFC) caught one of the offerings and secured a takedown, where he landed ground-and-pound and threatened with an armbar, while “Cowboy” countered with a leg lock in the waning seconds of the frame. The stage for the finish was set early in the next round when Cerrone slipped after landing a head kick. As the BMF Ranch Founder attempted to return to his feet, Miller jumped on a tight guillotine choke. Cerrone could only hold out for a few moments before he was forced to tap.

Cerrone, who is winless in his last seven outings, announced his retirement after the defeat. The 38-year-old Miller has won three straight UFC appearances — all inside the distance.

Related » UFC 276 Round-by-Round Scoring

Composed Garry Outpoints Green

Irish prospect Ian Garry kept his undefeated record intact with a unanimous decision triumph against Bellator MMA veteran Gabriel Green in a welterweight tilt. The Sanford MMA product received three identical marks of 30-27, ending a modest two-bout winning streak for Green.

While Green (11-4, 2-2 UFC) was in his opponent’s face throughout the fight, Garry remained composed under pressure. The ex-Cage Warriors Fighting Championship title holder connected with precise straight punches, kicks to the head and body and knees down the middle. Garry dropped his adversary with a straight right early in Round 3, but Green recovered in relatively short order. The Downey, California, native did some good work to the body and appeared to briefly clip his foe with a left at the end of Round 2, but none of it was enough to knock Garry off course.

Du Plessis Wins Slugfest vs. Tavares

Dricus Du Plessis passed the most difficult test of his career to date, as he defeated durable Hawaiian veteran Brad Tavares via unanimous decision in a middleweight bout. The former KSW and Extreme Fighting Championship title holder received a trio of 29-28 scorecards from the cageside judges, going the distance for the first time in 19 professional fights.

Du Plessis (17-2, 3-0 UFC) survived a difficult start, when he botched a lateral drop attempt and allowed Tavares (19-7, 14-7 UFC) to assume top position in Round 1. As the bout progressed, the 28-year-old South African battered his foe with blistering straight punches to the head, kicks and standing elbows. Perhaps the most significant blow occurred in Round 2, when “Still Knocks” busted Tavares open with a brutal knee to the face. Tavares wore a crimson mask the rest of the way, and while his chin held up, he simply couldn’t match his opponent’s superior output, power and variety of offense.

Muniz Cruises Past Hall

Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Andre Muniz was rarely threatened in a clear-cut three-round verdict over “The Ultimate Fighter 17” finalist Uriah Hall in a middleweight clash. “Sergipano” received a trio of 30-27 tallies from the judges for his fifth consecutive victory in the Octagon and ninth straight overall. Hall has lost back-to-back outings after authoring a four-fight winning streak from December 2018 to April 2021.

Though he was unable to secure his fourth straight submission in UFC competition, Muniz (23-4, 5-0 UFC) dominated the action with his grappling. He landed takedowns in each frame, advanced to dominant positions and attacked with submissions and ground-and-pound. Hall (17-11, 10-9 UFC), meanwhile, appeared fatigued and hesitant to engage, and his only moment of note was a flurry of standing-to-ground punches in the waning seconds of Round 2.

Barber Batters Eye, Wins Third Straight

Team Alpha Male export Maycee Barber relied on superior striking to capture a unanimous decision triumph against former title challenger Jessica Eye in a flyweight contest. All three cageside judges scored the fight in favor of the Dana White’s Contender Series alum: 29-28, 29-28, 30-27. Barber has won three consecutive bouts within the Las Vegas-based promotion.

Barber (11-2, 6-2 UFC) made Eye (15-11, 5-10, 1 NC UFC) pay for her willingness to engage in the clinch in the opening stanza, as she rattled her opponent with vicious elbows and knees to the midsection, including one elbow that formed a mouse over the Ohioan’s left eye. Eye’s best moment came in Round 2, when she landed her only takedown and enjoyed more than 2:00 of control time. Barber was able to remain upright for the majority of the fight, however, and she also found success at range with stiff right hands and the occasional head kick.

Eye, who has lost four straight in UFC competition, left her gloves in the Octagon and announced her retirement in a post-fight interview.

Stoliarenko Armbars Clark for First UFC Win

Julija Stoliarenko earned her first UFC triumph, defeating Jessica-Rose Clark via first-round submission in a bantamweight affair. The Lithuanian appeared to dislocate her foe’s limb with an armbar, forcing a tap just 42 seconds into the period. It was Stoliarenko’s ninth career triumph by submission — all by the same maneuver.

Clark (11-8, 4-4 UFC) rushed out from her corner at the opening bell, landing a snapping low kick and clipping Stoliarenko with a two-punch combination. Moments later, Stoliarenko (10-6-2, 1-4 UFC) executed a beautifully-timed level change, immediately landing in side control on the mat. From there, “The Ultimate Fighter 28” cast member deftly transitioned to a far side armbar, forcing Clark to ask out of the fight.