al-Turk came from a middle-class family in Beirut, Lebanon and had become interested in the UFC and mixed martial arts after watching a few events. His father was a doctor and al-Turk himself worked in the pharmaceutical industry, before deciding to make mixed martial arts his career. al-Turk has a very accomplished grappling career as well, with his Brazilian jiu-jitsu background. al-Turk was the ADCC European Champion and made it to the final of the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, losing to future UFC fighter Gabriel Gonzaga by only three points, further motivating al-Turk to transition to mixed martial arts.