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- What: UFC on ESPN 52
- Who: Jalin Turner vs. Bobby Green
- Date: Saturday, December 2, 2023
- Location: Moody Center in Austin, Texas
- Time: Prelims (4:00 p.m. ET) Main Card (7:00 p.m. ET)
- How to Watch: Prelims: ESPN+, Main Card: ESPN
Two lightweight fighters heading in opposite directions in the division meet on Saturday in the co-main event of the UFC on ESPN 52 fight card from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. Those 155-pound competitors are Jalin Turner and Bobby Green. Here is some information on Turner and Green before we discuss the betting breakdown for the UFC on ESPN 52 fight card.
Jalin Turner (13-7) found himself as the No. 10 ranked fighter in the official UFC lightweight rankings when he stepped into the Octagon in March against Mateusz Gamrot. He earned that ranking on the strength of five straight wins. However, after dropping a split decision to Gamrot and another split decision to Dan Hooker in July, Turner finds himself as the No. 12 fighter in the division.
Bobby Green (31-14-1-1) is riding a two-fight winning streak. The veteran combatant picked up finishes and “Performance of the Night” bonuses in those outings, stopping Tony Ferguson and Grant Dawson. Now ranked No. 13 in the UFC’s 155-pound division, Green looks to continue his climb up those rankings in Austin.
Before we look at the best bets for the Jalin Turner vs. Bobby Green matchup at UFC on ESPN 52, check out the best UFC betting sites and our betting pick for the UFC on ESPN 52 main event, Beneil Dariush vs. Arman Tsarukyan.
UFC on ESPN 52 co-main event: Jalin Turner vs. Bobby Green betting picks
| Fighters |  |  |  |
| Bobby Green | +210 | +200 | +205 |
| Jalin Turner | -250 | -250 | -255 |
UFC on ESPN 52 co-main event: Jalin Turner vs. Bobby Green betting breakdown
Bobby Green was initially booked to face the No. 9 ranked Dan Hooker on this card, but a broken arm knocked Hooker from the event. With less than two week’s notice, Jalin Turner answered the UFC’s call to face Green on Saturday in Austin, and while this fight might not have the intrigue of a matchup where two fighters are both on two-fight winning streaks, the Turner vs. Green matchup is a meaningful one for the UFC lightweight rankings.
Bobby Green is a true mixed martial artist. While the 37-year-old is most comfortable in a striking matchup, he can get things done on the mat as well, as his submission of Ferguson showed. Green is one of the most underrated boxers in the UFC’s lightweight division. His speed is undervalued, and while he doesn’t usually score one-punch knockouts, his volume striking and accuracy have broken more than his fair share of opponents.
The 28-year-old Jalin Turner is coming off two losses, one in which he also came in at 158 pounds. The long and lanky lightweight uses his size well, and like Green, he is a solid boxer. Also, like Green, Turner can get things done on the mat as well, as three of his past five wins have come by way of submission. Turner excels at applying forward pressure and fighting at distance. The weight cut is a worry for Turner as he does not have much time to get down to 155 for this fight. That’s something everyone needs to watch before making a betting pick on this fight.
UFC on ESPN 52 co-main event: Jalin Turner vs. Bobby Green statistical breakdown
All signs point to this being a striking matchup, so that’s what we will concentrate on here. Both of these men are extremely active strikers. Green averages 6.15 significant strikes landed per minute, which is slightly higher than Turner’s landing rate of 5.82. Green is also a little more accurate, landing 52 percent of his attempts, while Turner hits on 48 percent of the strikes he throws. Despite his size, Turner gets hit more than Green, getting tagged 4.61 times per minute, while the more defensively sound Green gets hit 3.66 times per 60 seconds. As for defensive striking percentage, Green’s 62 percent dwarfs Turner’s 41 percent.
Size could be the wildcard in this fight. Turner has a five-inch height advantage and a six-inch reach advantage over Green. If he utilizes those attributes to their full effect, Green could have a difficult time dealing with his rangy foe in this matchup.
Best Bets: UFC on ESPN 52 co-main event: Jalin Turner vs. Bobby Green
I would implore those thinking of wagering on the Turner vs. Green matchup in Austin to wait for Friday’s weigh-ins before making a betting pick. The thing to watch on that day is how Turner looks on the scale. If he struggles to make weight or looks like he had a hard weight cut, the betting pick then might be to look at the live betting underdog in Green, who can overwhelm fighters with his movement and volume. However, if Turner looks good and has no issues on the scale, the pick is for the betting favorite to get the win on Saturday night, most likely by using his length and power to pick up a knockout victory.
Best UFC on ESPN 52 Main Event Betting Pick: Jalin Turner to beat Bobby Green by knockout.
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