LAS VEGAS – After a rough start to his UFC career with back-to-back losses, Jamie Mullarkey seems to be getting comfortable.
Mullarkey, from Australia, came to the UFC in 2019, but dropped a decision to Brad Riddell at UFC 243. A year later, he lost a decision to Fares Ziam. But in 2021, he rebounded with a 46-second knockout of Khama Worthy and followed it up this past October with a knockout of Devonte Smith.
“It feels like I’m home now,” Mullarkey said at Wednesday’s media day for UFC 272 in Las Vegas. “It was a bit of a shaky start, but we’ve got the feet under us and we’re ready to keep the momentum going. … I’ve definitely felt the growth since I’ve fought (here), and just been more comfortable in there – getting those first couple UFC jitters and fights out of the way. Definitely it feels like I’m more comfortable and I’m here to stay.”
Mullarkey (14-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) closes out the preliminary card at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday against Jalin Turner (11-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC). The lightweights were supposed to fight in New Zealand in February 2020, but Mullarkey had to pull out of the fight with an injury.
Mullarkey said he always had a feeling the fight would get rebooked eventually.
“I definitely thought we were going to get matched up (again),” he said. “We were matched up for UFC Auckland. That didn’t go ahead, and it’s come full circle two years later. Jalin – he’s tough. He brings different problems to the table. I’ve never fought someone quite as tall as him and as long, so that’s going to be a different challenge that I’m looking forward to.”
Mullarkey isn’t small for the lightweight division by any stretch – he checks in at 6-foot even. But Turner is 6-foot-3, so Mullarkey will be in a position he’s not usually in, and that’s dealing with someone who has some height on him.
To prepare for that, he spent a lot of his training camp working with UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, who at 5-foot-6 deals with height issues in most of his fights.
“The biggest thing I took from this camp was working with Alex Volkanovski,” Mullarkey said. “He has to get there – probably anyone he’s fought is taller than him. So he taught me so much this camp. I’m looking forward to trying out some new stuff.
“I’m looking to get my feet under me first. Jalin’s a dangerous opponent. You can’t rush with a guy like him. We’ll find our feet, and then I’m sure the war’s going to come. I think it’s going to come down to who wants it more, to be honest.”
UFC 272 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
