"I kept calling Dana every single day. I called right after it happened and a couple of weeks later, which seems like a long time ago. I just kept calling and calling and begging for a chance. I was getting my stuff together, kept my head up and kept training and training," stated debuting UFC middleweight Jesse Taylor as he talked about how he got his second opportunity with the UFC. Check out what else he had to say as he talks about what he's been up to since the show, training with Team Quest, his upcoming clash with CB Dollaway and much more.
PC: How are you doing my man?
JT: I'm doing good man. I'm just training hard, doing a lot of training and it's going good.
PC: From the outside looking in, it appears you took this fight on quick notice. Where you in the gym training?
JT: I'm always doing some type of training and once I found out about this, I pretty much upped the intensity on everything. I doubled and tripled up on some things. I'm just ready to do it and I can't wait.
PC: You're training with Team Quest. How is that working out for you?
JT: Team Quest is a great camp. Every day we have the who's who of MMA in there. We have world-class guys that we get to workout with every day and I feel like my fight game has come a long way from when I started and even from the show.
PC: You volunteered to fight CB on the show when he seemed unbeatable. Do you think, stylistically, he's a good match for you?
JT: I think this is a good fight for me. The good thing about MMA is that you could show one style and have so much more in your arsenal. I think it's going to be a good fight, but either way it goes, I think I just got a little more skill than him.
PC: You were in the final fight and then the casino situation happened. How tough was it for you to watch that fight?
JT: Yeah, it was very hard to watch. I feel like that contract was rightfully mine and I could've done well with both of those guys. I think I could've beat them and got that contract, but yeah, it was very hard to watch. It just makes me want to come back stronger.
PC: The fight ended rather quickly, but what did you think of the fight?
JT: I was surprised, just like I've always been with Amir. I was surprised that, in the rematch, he was able to finish so quickly. I don't know if CB didn't work on his ground game or what, but all the props goes to Amir. He did a good job.
PC: Was it a situation like Dana said on the show, for you to get your shit together and call him in a couple of months or did you get the call from them first?
JT: I kept calling Dana every single day. I called right after it happened and a couple of weeks later, which seems like a long time ago. I just kept calling and calling and begging for a chance. I was getting my stuff together, kept my head up and kept training and training and when the Finale rolled around, I saw them and next thing you know, I get a call from both Dana and Joe Silva and they were like, "You're on, but we don't have an opponent yet." I said, "Alright! Whoever it is, I will take it!"
PC: Do you have an alcohol problem or were you just in the house having fun?
JT: I definitely know that I get a little wild and out of control, but I don't think it's like people think. I don't have an alcohol problem. I don't have to drink or nothing like that. I was in the house and I was definitely in the wrong, but being in the house for 6 weeks, we were like caged animals in the house that were all of a sudden let out. It was getting a little wild in the house and it kind of got to me a little bit.
PC: Plus you have freakish genetics where you could do all of that and make weight with no problem.
JT: (Laughing) Right! No, I've really cleaned up. I'm not drinking before my fights and I'm taking this fight so seriously that it's really going to be quite a showing. I can't wait to show off the skills that I know I have.
PC: A lot of people feel that 2 wrestlers can't put on exciting fights. What type of fight are you expecting from CB and how important is it for you to impress?
JT: I think it's going to make for a good fight. Usually when you have two wrestlers, they end up standing more. I'm going to do whatever it takes to win the fight. If I see an opening for a takedown, I will take it, but I do want to show my standup skills.
PC: Good luck Jesse. It was great speaking with you. Anything you want to say in closing?
JT: I just want to thank all of my training partners and my sponsors.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]