The thrill of combat sports runs deep in the Bahamondes family’s veins. In Chile, Manuel ‘La Jaula’ Bahamondes is a renowned kickboxer, having risen to become a South American champion in the discipline. Years later, his son Ignacio, now 16-5, has emerged as one of the top prospects in the UFC’s lightweight division. The Chilean has transitioned from being known as ‘La Jaulita’ in his early days to earning his father’s nickname, with Manuel beaming with pride at how successfully his eldest son has followed in his footsteps. This Saturday, Bahamondes will face off against Jalin Turner, his first ranked opponent in the company, to kick off the star-studded UFC 313 event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
As a young boy, Ignacio looked up to his father as a role model and began practicing kickboxing, making his professional debut at just 14 years old. Manuel deliberately sought out a 22-year-old opponent for his son, aiming to instill a sense of fear that would spark a fire within him. The fight ended with ‘La Jaula’ securing a knockout in just 50 seconds. Later, Ignacio made the transition to MMA and, at 16, moved to Miami to further hone his skills. Since he was still a minor, he had to falsify his ID for his early fights, keeping his struggling life a secret from his father to prevent him from flying over and bringing him back to Chile.
At 23, ‘La Jaula’ participated in Dana White’s Contender Series, where he achieved a stunning KO and earned a contract with the company. Following a loss in his debut against John Makhdessi via split decision, Bahamondes racked up three consecutive wins – including two finishes – that brought him to the cusp of the top 15. However, Ludovit Klein put the brakes on his ambitions with a unanimous decision victory. Undeterred, Ignacio took a break and returned in 2024 to deliver two incredible first-round KOs against Christos Giagos and Manuel Torres, earning him a shot against Jalin Turner, the number 13 ranked lightweight.
As Ignacio revealed in an interview, “I spoke with the matchmaker and asked for Jalin Turner before they even offered it to me.” After his fight against Manuel Torres, he expressed his desire to face Turner, saying, “I want to test myself against the only fighter my size in the 155-pound division, as we both stand at 1.91 meters tall.” Bahamondes is accustomed to pushing himself to the limit and is eager to gauge his skills against a formidable opponent like Turner.
A Dream Taking Shape
According to Ignacio, his career has progressed so rapidly that he sometimes feels like he’s living in a dream, with everything unfolding just as he had envisioned when he was younger. However, his upcoming fight against Jalin Turner this Saturday is a harsh reality, and Ignacio is determined to make a statement in the lightweight division. “I’m anxious for this fight; I don’t see any outcome other than me winning. If it’s not by KO in the first round, it’ll be by decision,” he stated in an interview with ‘SerEbro EnlosDeportes’.
As Ignacio Bahamondes noted, “I’d love to bring a UFC event to Chile and headline a UFC Fight Night. It would be a dream come true, and I’m confident that these future dreams will eventually become a reality.” With each knockout he achieves, he moves closer to his goal, and the flame that ignited 13 years ago will face its first major test this Saturday.
The fact that Bahamondes has slowly but surely won over the hearts of the Chilean people, much like his father did in his time, is a testament to his dedication and perseverance. By consistently delivering impressive performances, ‘La Jaula’ aims to reciprocate the support of his fans by potentially bringing the UFC back to Chile in the future. As he continues on his journey, the stakes are high, but Ignacio Bahamondes is ready to put on a show and prove himself as a force to be reckoned with in the lightweight division.