ATLANTA – Matt Frevola (7-1-1 MMA, 1-1-1 UFC) wasn’t always in control of the rangy Jalin Turner (8-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC), but relentless scrambling and aggression earned him the decision nod.

The lightweight bout closed out the preliminary card of today’s UFC 236 event at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. It aired on ESPN following additional prelims on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+ and ahead of the main card on pay-per-view.

Frevola kept his hands high to start, leaping forward from range firing big punches before driving into a takedown. Turner tried to grab a guillotine as they fell, but Frevola popped his head free and moved to side control before taking the back when Turner looked to escape. Frevola tried to wrap the neck, but Turner did a fine job of patiently battling the hands as he worked from a kneeling position. Turner eventually found the space to slip out the back door and scramble away.

On the restart, Turner was a little more aggressive with his hands, but he has also forced to be aware of Frevola’s repeated takedown attempts. A single-leg did get the fight to the floor, and Turner was unable to control the neck as he dropped to his back. When Turner tired to scramble, it was Frevola who latched on to a guillotine and slipped to mount, though he couldn’t get the squeeze in place. Turner rolled when his head popped free and again worked back to the feet, where he used his range to land a few solid strikes before the bell.

Turner was confident on the feet to start the second, firing punches from long range. Frevola dove forward when his opponent got close, but Turner pushed him away. Frevola went back quickly for the legs, but Turner found a way to dance away after considerable effort.

Forced to stand, Frevola did sneak in a few powerful hooks upstairs, but Turner appeared relatively unfazed. Turner was a little hesitant to fully commit to his punches, though he did successfully defend another takedown. Frevola nearly walked directly into a knee on another takedown attempt, and Turner grabbed the neck and tried to squeeze the guillotine. It wasn’t there, so Turner controlled the head as he looked to back away, but a relentless Frevola was able to scramble and reverse the position, working from his opponent’s half-guard before looking again for a guillotine choke. Turner popped his head free, but a flailing upkick landed clean while he was still kneeling. Referee Marc Goddard instantly called for time, and a doctor was called into look at Turner, who was allowed to continue. Frevola was not docked a point for the infraction, and the round ended almost immediately after the restart.

Frevola looked to press in the third, but Turner was prepared and used punches to keep his opponent away. Frevola did his best to kick the leg and rush forward in an attempt tp close the distance, but Turner was clam as he punched from range. Frevola eventually drove forward for a double and was able to get the takedown, brushing aside Turner’s triangle attempt to move out to side control.

Frevola attempted to isolate the left arm, punching the body when he couldn’t peel it away. Turner continued to scramble and was able to crawl back to his feet, landing a knee as they returned to the standup department. With time winding down, it was Turner who was pressing the action, but he found a scrappy Frevola on the other end, returning fire in the pocket. Frevola drove Turner into the cage in the final seconds, and both men raised their arms at the bell. In the end, Frevola was granted the win, 30-27 across the board.

“I knew he was a strong striker, so the plan was to make it a dirty-style dog fight,” Frevola said. “I win those style fights 10 times out of 10, and that was the result tonight. He’s so tall and has that reach. He was switching stances on me and timing his knee well. When I caught him from the bottom, I was just scrambling. He defended the takedowns well with his sprawl – I should have used the cage more to my advantage. The submission attempt was so close – I could hear him starting to gurgle. The first round, I had his back and should have pushed more to get the finish. I’m happy to take this win and the experience from this fight.”

Up-to-the-minute UFC 236 results include:

• Matt Frevola def. Jalin Turner via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Alexandre Pantoja def. Wilson Reis via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:58
• Max Griffin def. Zelim Imadaev via majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28)
• Khalid Taha def. Boston Salmon via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:25
• Belal Muhammad def. Curtis Millender via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 30-26)
• Montel Jackson def. Andre Soukhamthath via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-27)
• Poliana Botelho def. Lauren Mueller via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Brandon Davis def. Randy Costa via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:12

For complete coverage of UFC 236, check out the UFC Events section of the site.