The lightweight division just got one other explosive addition to shut out the 12 months. UFC veteran Edson Barboza will face Jalin Turner at UFC 323 on December 6, organising a dynamic matchup between a seasoned striker and probably the most dangerous finishers within the division. The event, set to cap off the UFC’s 2025 calendar, already features several high-profile bouts that promise fireworks from top to bottom.
For fight fans, Barboza vs. Turner represents a captivating stylistic clash — a technician versus a punisher, speed versus size, and experience versus youth. Each men have thrilling reputations contained in the Octagon, and their meeting could function a bridge fight for the following wave of lightweight contenders.
Edson Barboza Still Dangerous After All These Years
Even after greater than a decade with the promotion, Edson Barboza stays certainly one of the UFC’s most electrifying strikers. The 38-year-old Brazilian has been a staple name across each the lightweight and featherweight divisions, feared for his devastating leg kicks, crisp boxing, and willingness to trade within the pocket.
Barboza enters UFC 323 coming off a string of competitive performances, showing that age has yet to catch as much as his technical edge. His ability to keep up composure under pressure and counter with surgical precision is what continues to make him a crowd favorite. Whether it’s his spinning wheel kick knockouts or those brutal body shots, Barboza’s striking stays textbook violence.
Edson Barboza losing a kickboxing match to Drakkar Klose within the 12 months 2025…
It is likely to be that point EdsonKlose should’ve lost some extent on this cartwheel kick attempt #ufc319 pic.twitter.com/F1sgO2jIDz
— Kevin Thang (@Skip2MyJays) August 17, 2025
Against Jalin Turner, he’ll should depend on that have and fight IQ to neutralize the younger man’s size and power. Turner, who stands six feet three with an imposing reach, presents a singular problem for many lightweights. Barboza will likely look to work the legs early, keep the space manageable, and force Turner into striking exchanges where skill can trump physicality.
This fight also marks Barboza’s probability to make one last push toward top-10 relevancy. After years of facing elite competition, a victory over a surging talent like Turner could be an announcement win that reasserts his place among the many division’s deadliest veterans.
Jalin Turner Looks for Statement Win to Reclaim Momentum
Jalin “The Tarantula” Turner has long been viewed as probably the most dangerous finishers within the lightweight division. His combination of size, length, and straight-line power has overwhelmed many opponents, earning him a highlight reel crammed with knockdowns and submissions. However the recent stretch for Turner has been uneven — alternating wins and losses against top-tier names has kept him on the bubble of contention.
At UFC 323, Turner finally has a possibility to make his mark against a respected name who has faced nearly everyone within the division. A win over Edson Barboza would do greater than just get him back within the win column; it will prove he’s able to hang with the savviest and most durable strikers in the game.
Stylistically, Turner’s path to victory lies in controlling range and dictating pace. Using his length to keep up distance while firing off straight punches could help prevent Barboza from organising those dangerous kicks. If Turner can keep his composure and avoid being drawn into wild exchanges, he possesses the ability and timing to supply a finish — potentially his most meaningful one yet.
For a fighter whose profession has blended flashes of brilliance with bouts of inconsistency, UFC 323 is a must-win scenario. It’s a crossroads fight — elevate into contention or risk sliding back into the pack.
Confirmed Fights on the UFC 323 Card
UFC 323 is shaping as much as be probably the most stacked fight cards of the 12 months. While several bouts are still being finalized, the confirmed matchups already promise intense motion across multiple divisions including two title fights:
- Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan – UFC Bantamweight Championship
- Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van – UFC Flyweight Championship
- Jan Blachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskov
- Brandon Moreno vs. Tatsuro Taira
- Henry Cejudo vs. Payton Talbott
- Marvin Vettori vs. Brunno Ferreira
- Maycee Barber vs. Karine Silva
- Edson Barboza vs. Jalin Turner
- Nazim Sadykhov vs. Fares Ziam
- Muhammad Naimov vs. Mairon Santos
- Iwo Baraniewski vs. Ibo Aslan
- Grant Dawson vs. Manuel Torres
- Terrance McKinney vs. Chris Duncan
- Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Antonio Trocoli
With Edson Barboza and Jalin Turner anchoring the undercard, UFC 323 looks like an event built for pure entertainment. Each men are known finishers. Each thrive in chaos. And each have plenty at stake — Barboza defending his legacy, Turner chasing momentum.
When the Octagon doors close in December, expect a striking showcase that reminds fans why lightweight stays the UFC’s most consistently thrilling division.