Jesse Taylor

Jesse Taylor (born January 2, 1983) is an American professional mixed martial arts (MMA) and 10th Planet Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt fighter who last competed in the Welterweight division.

In junior college, Taylor became a two-time JC All-American, CCCAA State Runner-Up in 2003, and crowned California Junior College 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 became harder for Taylor to concentrate on Wrestling and school while adjusting to the family life.

A professional competitor from 2006 to 2023, he was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter 7, winning his entry, preliminary, quarterfinal and semi-final matches, and then became infamous for being the only fighter to ever be removed from finals due to events that occurred after filming was completed.

Taylor later won The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Welterweight Tournament, and has also fought for top promotions such as UFC, Strikeforce, DREAM, MFC, AFC, Impact FC, Shark Fights, Cage Warriors and Absolute Championship Berkut.

Jesse Taylor also known as "JT Money", graduated Poway High School 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 Palomar College near San Diego.

Following his removal from The Ultimate Fighter, Taylor was offered a fight against C.B. Dollaway at UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Irvin on July 19, 2008.

He lost the fight via a Peruvian necktie submission in the first round.

On July 29 the Wrestling Observer reported that Taylor had been released from the UFC.

In his first fight since his release from the UFC, Taylor fought Drew Fickett at a catchweight 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.

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

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, 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.

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.

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 life together, call me in a few months."

Later, in the July fight promo footage for UFC: Silva vs. Irvin, White recounted a conversation he had with Taylor:

"He told me, 'I'm in AA now. I've totally got my life together. It's the biggest mistake I've ever made. And I'll never do it again, I'll never disappoint you or the UFC again.' And I believed what he said, so, I'm bringing him back."