Jesse Taylor

Name	Jesse Taylor
Other names	JT Money
Caption	Taylor in 2009
Birth place	Poway, California, United States
Nationality	American
Height
Weight
Weight class	Middleweight (current)
Reach
Style	Wrestling
Fighting out of	Murrieta, California
Team	Team Quest
Years active	2006-present
Mma win	19
Mma kowin	5
Mma subwin	9
Mma decwin	5
Mma loss	6
Mma subloss	5
Mma decloss	1
University	San Francisco State University, Cal State Fullerton
School	Poway High School
Url	http://www.yojtmoney.com
Sherdog	17389

Jesse Marcus Taylor (born January 2, 1983) is an American professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter 7, winning his entry, preliminary, quarterfinal and semi-final matches, and then became the only fighter to ever be removed from finals due to events that occurred after filming was completed (see Removal from the Finale below). Taylor has fought for top promotions such as: Ultimate Fighting Championships, Strikeforce, DREAM, Maximum Fighting Championship, Impact FC and King of the Cage.

Early life

Jesse Taylor graduated from Poway High School in Poway, CA, where he was a wrestler. After high school Jesse attended San Francisco State university. He took Jiu-Jitsu classes but decided to stick to wrestling. When things did not work out in San Francisco he moved back down to San Diego, where he then attended junior college. In junior college, Taylor became a two-time All-American, state runner-up in 2003, and state champion in 2004, only losing three matches. Taylor was then rewarded with a scholarship to Cal State Fullerton. After the birth of his son, it become harder for Taylor to concentrate on wrestling and school while adjusting to the family life. Taylor still managed to qualify for the Division 1 NCAA Tournament and was 3rd in the Pac-10's.

After realizing there was no money in wrestling after college(a sentiment echoed by many former collegiate wrestlers, including Matt Hughes, Randy Couture, and Bobby Lashley), Taylor tried to think of a way to still compete and make a living for him and his son. He then decided to give mixed martial arts a real try. An old wrestling friend of his invited him for a Team Quest workout, where Taylor was able to spar with fighters such as Dan Henderson, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, and Jason Miller. He picked up Jiu Jitsu quickly, and worked to improve his striking. After only about a month of training, Taylor took a fight against a much more established fighter and was victorious. A few years later Jesse got the chance to be on the seventh season of the hit reality television series The Ultimate Fighter.

Mixed martial arts

The Ultimate Fighter

In the second episode Jesse Taylor won his entry match against Nick Rossborough by rear naked choke. After all entry matches were done the teams were to pick the fighters that they wanted. Taylor was picked sixth overall by Forrest Griffin. With Quinton Jackson getting the first pick for fighters, Forrest Griffin was to choose the first preliminary fight. Griffin chose Taylor to take on Mike Dolce; In the second round, Taylor won the fight again via a rear naked choke. Taylor's quarterfinal fight was against Dante Rivera, which Taylor also won, this time via unanimous decision. Taylor had now advanced to the semi-finals against his close friend Tim Credeur, a fight which Taylor won by unanimous decision, putting him into the finals.

Removal From Finale

Taylor was removed from the finals after a security recording was presented to Dana White. He was shown kicking out one of the side windows of a rented limousine. The staff of the hotel where the incident occurred reported that a drunken Taylor had frightened female patrons and confronted hotel security by acting aggressively and screaming that he was a UFC fighter. Dana White told Taylor that this type of behavior was unacceptable, and that he believed Taylor did not possess the mental discipline to deal with the pressures of fame and popularity that being in the UFC would put on him. White told Taylor that because of his actions he had forfeited his place in the final match, a decision that an emotional Taylor did not try to protest. However, White went on to thank Taylor for his efforts in the show, and advised him to "go home, get your fucking life together, fucking call me in a few months." Later, in the July fight promo footage for Dana White recounted a conversation he had with Taylor:

Ultimate Fighting Championship

At , Taylor lost his UFC debut against the TUF 7 Middleweight runner-up CB Dollaway by submission via Peruvian Necktie

Release From UFC Contract

On July 29 the Wrestling Observer reported that Jesse Taylor had been released from the UFC. The likely reason for this was his loss to C.B. Dollaway, which many had expected would lead to Taylor being dropped by the organization. There are also rumors circling that some negative comments made about the UFC by Taylor - along with doubts by the UFC management if he was following through with his Alcoholics Anonymous meetings - contributed to him being let go by the organization. The negative comments involved Jesse Taylor accusing the UFC of using a double standard when it comes to fighters getting in to trouble - referring to the arrest of Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

Post UFC

In his first fight since his release from the UFC, Taylor fought Drew Fickett at a catch weight of 175 pounds. Taylor upset the more experienced Fickett, winning by TKO due to strikes in 1 minutes and 42 seconds. After the fight, Taylor then dropped down from middleweight to welterweight.

He later fought on January 15, where he was set to fight unbeaten Pat Minihan, instead Taylor fought Rico Altamirano, he defeated Altamirano via rear naked choke in the second round. Taylor fought on February 14, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was set to go up against Esteban Ramos. Taylor ended up fighting and beating (1-0) fighter Gert Kocani. Taylor again won via rear naked choke in the second round.

Jesse fought on March 28, 2009 in Colorado. He took on Chris Camozzi, defeating him by decision. Jesse won the belt in Colorado at K.O.C. held by Camozzi. On May 2, 2009, Taylor defeated MMA veteran Eric DaVila at Shark Fight 4. Taylor then won his sixth straight fight since being released from the UFC after defeating Rubén Darío at Total Combat 33. The fight was for the Total Combat middleweight title.

Dream

One day after his win over Darío, Taylor was offered a fight for Japan promotion, DREAM. He made his debut on July 20, 2009 at Dream 10 against Korean Judoka, Dong Sik Yoon. Taylor won after Yoon injured his ankle and was not able to continue.

Strikeforce

Nick Diaz was slated to face Jay Hieron for the Welterweight Championship belt. However, Diaz missed a pre-fight drug test mandated by the California State Athletic Commission and was denied a license to compete. Diaz was replaced by Taylor, who moved down to welterweight, and the fight was changed to a non-title bout. Taylor lost the match via unanimous decision.

Taylor had his second fight for the Strikeforce promotion on November 6, 2009 on the main card of the event. He lost to Luke Rockhold (5-1) in a middleweight contest.

Maximum Fighting Championship

Taylor signed a two fight deal with Canadian based promotion, Maximum Fighting Championship. His first fight was on the MFC 25 card against Thales Leites, losing in the first round by submission.

Before taking another fight with the MFC, Taylor fought former UFC middleweight champion Murilo Bustamante. In the second round the fight, referee John McCarthy stood the pair up and as the fight was about to continue, Bustamante seemingly lost equilibrium and could not continue, giving Taylor the TKO victory.

His second fight for MFC took place on the main card of the MFC 26 card against Tom Watson. Taylor won via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26).

Independent Promotions

Taylor was signed to fight Australian knockout artist, Dylan Andrews, at the inaugural Australian Fighting Championships event. The fight took place in Melbourne on November 12, 2010. Taylor won the fight midway into round one, choking Andrews unconscious from a guillotine choke.

Taylor was scheduled to fight Pride, UFC, and DREAM veteran, Denis Kang at "BFL 7: Invasion" for Canadian promotion, Battlefield Fight League. Denis Kang later pulled out of the fight, and Jesse moved up to Light Heavyweight to fight Clay Davidson, defeating him in a unanimous decision.

The fight with Kang was rescheduled for May 28, 2011 at Battlefield Fight League 8. Taylor won by submission in the first round, getting Kang in a rear naked choke.

Personal life

Jesse Taylor has two sons, Alexander, and Nikolaus. In 2011 Jesse Taylor signed a sponsorship contract with Australia’s number 1 MMA fight gear WMD fight gear. WMD fight gear founder stated that he was proud to have Jesse Taylor as one of the brands sponsored fighters.

Mixed martial arts record

{| style="font-size: 85%; text-align: left;" class="wikitable sortable" width="100%" |- !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Result !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Record !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Opponent !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Method !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Event !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Date !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Round !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Time !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Location !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Notes |- |-align=center |Win |19-6 | Denis Kang |Submission |Battlefield Fight League 8: Island Beatdown | |align="center"|1 |align="center"|1:57 | British Columbia | |- |-align=center |Win |18-6 | Clay Davidson |Decision |Battlefield Fight League 7: Invasion | |align="center"|3 |align="center"|5:00 | British Columbia | |- |-align=center |Win |17-6 | Dylan Andrews |Technical Submission |AFC 1: Taylor vs. Andrews | |align="center"|1 |align="center"|2:33 | Melbourne | |- |-align=center |Win |16-6 | Tom Watson |Decision |MFC 26: Retribution | |align="center"|3 |align="center"|5:00 | Alberta | |- |-align=center |Win |15-6 | Murilo Bustamante | TKO |Impact FC 2: The Uprising 2 | |align="center"|2 |align="center"|2:10 | Sydney | |- |-align=center |Loss |14-6 | Thales Leites | Submission |MFC 25: Vindication | |align="center"|1 |align="center"|2:27 | Alberta | |- |-align=center |Win |14-5 | Jason Day | Submission |Aggression MMA: Vengeance | |align="center"|1 |align="center"|1:14 | Alberta | |- |-align=center |Loss |13-5 | Luke Rockhold | Submission | | |align="center"|1 |align="center"|3:42 | California | |- |-align=center |Loss |13-4 | Jay Hieron |Decision | | |align="center"|3 |align="center"|5:00 | California | |- |-align=center |Win |13-3 | TaylorDong Sik Yoon | TKO | DREAM.10 | |align="center"|1 |align="center"|1:02 | Saitama | |- |-align=center |Win |12-3 | TaylorRubén Barboza | Submission | Total Combat 33: Bad Intentions | |align="center"|1 |align="center"|3:13 | Mexico City | |- |-align=center |Winx |11-3 | TaylorEric DaVila | Submission | Shark Fights 4 | |align="center"|1 |align="center"|2:29 | Texas | |- |-align=center |Winx |10-3 | TaylorChris Camozzi | Decision | KOC: Shockwave 2009 | |align="center"|3 |align="center"|5:00 | Colorado | |- |-align=center |Winx |9-3 | TaylorGert Kocani | Submission | XCF: Rumble In Racetown | |align="center"|2 |align="center"|4:45 | Florida | |- |-align=center |Winx |8-3 | TaylorRico Altamirano | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | The Warriors Cage 1 | |align="center"|2 |align="center"|2:00 | California | |- |-align=center |Winx |7-3 | TaylorDrew Fickett | TKO (Strikes) | Total Combat 32: Fickett vs. Taylor | |align="center"|1 |align="center"|1:42 | California | |- |-align=center |Lossx |6-3 | TaylorC.B. Dollaway | Submission | | |align="center"|1 |align="center"| 3:58 | Nevada | |- |-align=center |Winx |6-2 | TaylorJorge Ramirez | TKO (Strikes) | MMA Xtreme 15 | |align="center"|1 |align="center"|0:42 | Mexico City | |- |-align=center |Winx |5-2 | TaylorMatt Major | Decision (Unanimous) | Melee on the Mountain | |align="center"|3 |align="center"|5:00 | California | |- |-align=center |Lossx |4-2 | TaylorKenny Ento | Submission (Triangle Choke) | PRIMAL MMA: The Next Level | |align="center"|1 |align="center"|0:37 | Tijuana | |- |-align=center |Winx |4-1 | TaylorJorge Ortiz | TKO (Punches) | Total Combat 21 | |align="center"|2 |align="center"|1:49 | California | |- |-align=center |Lossx |3-1 | TaylorJesse Forbes | Submission (Armbar) | Tuff-N-Uff 2 | |align="center"|1 |align="center"|1:21 | Nevada | |- |-align=center |Winx |3-0 | TaylorNoel Rodriguez | Submission | MMA Xtreme 9 | |align="center"|2 |align="center"|1:03 | Tijuana | |- |-align=center |Winx |2-0 | TaylorChris Chiasson | TKO | No Limits: Annihilation | |align="center"|2 |align="center"|1:28 | California | |- |-align=center |Winx |1-0 | TaylorRobert Sarkozi | Decision | KOTC: Rapid Fire | |align="center"|2 |align="center"|5:00 | California | |}

References

External links

Official website

MySpace page

Sherdog.com

Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:American mixed martial artists