Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes Prediction, Pick, Odds for UFC 313

Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes Odds, Prediction

Check out my Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes predictions, picks, and odds for UFC 313 on Saturday, March 8

There is an abundance of intriguing striking matchups on the UFC 313 main card, but none can claim to provide more potential excitement than the battle between two lightweights under 30. Ignacio Bahamondes and Jalin Turner mirror each other in several ways, and now matchmaking has provided a perfect test for both men in what oddsmakers see as a true toss-up scrap.

Here's my Turner vs. Bahamondes prediction.

Tale of the Tape

Both Bahamondes and Turner bring high-level kickboxing to the octagon, and both men are unlikely to face another fighter in their career taller than their opponent on Saturday night. Insanely long and tall for the 155 pound division, both fighters are listed at 6’3, while Turner will enjoy a 2 inch reach advantage. Each has the innate ability to seamlessly switch stances and attack from what would be out of position for a normal fighter, striking with a fluidity rarely seen..

It’s not often you see two fighters matched up with this much experience, as they both have provided numerous thrilling moments at the UFC already, while simultaneously still clearly in their primes as prospects. The main separator between these two fighters is undoubtedly the level of competition each have had to deal with up to this point in their respective careers.

Jalin Turner has already stepped inside the octagon with several of the divisions’ top fighters, taking on a wide-range of styles that have tested every area of his game. Currently, Turner is remembered most recently for not following up on his potential knockout victory at UF C300 last April over Renato Moicano – a victory in which would have catapulted his stardom to true contender status.

Instead, you can easily make the argument Turner will now take a step down in competition against a fighter yet to have cracked the lightweight rankings, something each of Turner’s last five opponents had accomplished.

While Bahamondes has been impressive in both the way he has won fights and the improvements he has displayed throughout his career, we can only look at one fight to point to as a litmus test against top competition, a unanimous decision loss to Ludovit Klein. Klein, a southpaw like Turner, timed a perfect step in left hand that badly hurt Bahamondes in round one, never looking back from there en route to victory.

This moment is particularly important because Jalin Turner is a very powerful striker, and his best punch is his straight left in which he unleashes with lightning speed. For as long as Bahamondes is, he still lunges into range at times. It’s fair to question how his durability will hold up against the upper-echelon of the lightweight division, as those type of strikers have the ability to land perfectly timed counter strikes.

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Turner vs. Bahamondes Prediction

Oddsmakers are implying a 60% chance this fight goes under 2.5 rounds, and I am in total agreement that power outweighs durability here from both sides of the matchup.

Jalin Turner has been in the cage with some of the most dangerous men the sport has to offer in his weight class, and they all have been greatly affected by his tremendous power in one way or another.

It’s pretty simple really – I am willing to take my chances at this price tag that Turner has the bigger moments on Saturday night, learning from his past mistakes, sealing the deal in impressive fashion.

John's Pick: Play Jalin Turner ML +110 (DraftKings)