by: Jack Bratcher
Remember Jesse Taylor from The Ultimate Fighter season 7? He is the Big John McCarthy look-alike who made UFC history by being the only person ever to get kicked off The Ultimate Fighter and out of the UFC AFTER the show had ended and before he could ever have an actual fight in the UFC. Taylor caused a scene at a Fertitta-owned casino in Las Vegas that spawned UFC president, Dana White to give Taylor the boot.
Taylor sought treatment for his alcohol-related foolishness, made amends with the UFC and White, and was granted a fight in July against fellow TUF cast member, C.B. Dolloway. Taylor lost that fight and then later the same evening at an after-party, was once again involved in some foolishness that caused the UFC to release him for the second time in four months.
However, Jesse Taylor has proved there is obviously life after the UFC by securing a deal with Total Combat to fight on October 2nd in San Diego, California. Total Combat has been bringing exciting MMA action to fans since 2003 when they held their very first show in Tiajuana, Mexico. Now it’s five years later and they are on their 32nd event. That’s pretty impressive. Let’s see if Taylor can be as impressive when he steps in the cage to fight another man known for controversy, UFC veteran Drew Fickett. This Total Combat event has been appropriately named, “Notorious”.
Fickett comes into this fight with a very respectable record of 35-6, with notable wins over such names as Kenny Florian, Josh Koscheck, Dennis Hallman, Josh Neer and Kurt Pellagrino. With a resume like that, Jesse Taylor with a record of 6-3 will surely have his hands full. Even though Taylor will most likely have a size advantage, the experience factor is overwhelmingly in Fickett’s favor. This will be Fickett’s fifth fight of the year. Last month he had two fights in the same week. Drew Fickett is a serious jump in competition for Jesse Taylor. This will be Taylor’s second fight for Total Combat. His first fight in the organization was in June 2007, at Total Combat 21, when he defeated Jorge Ortiz with a second round TKO.
Other fights on the card include a Co-Main Event with San Diego’s own, Kevin Dunsmor taking on WEC and Total Combat veteran, Ian McCall. Kim Rose, 1-0, coming off a win over Randy Couture’s wife Kim Coture, will be facing Megan Gangitano out of Team Quest. An Alliance Gym standout, Rolando Perez, will be facing San Pasqual’s Nick Alvarado.
Total Combat Entertainment in conjunction with Sycuan’s Ringside Promotions presents, Total Combat “Notorious”, live from the Sycuan Casino & Resort, located just 15 minutes east of downtown San Diego. This 32nd venture from one of southern California’s premier cage fighting promotions will take place on Thursday October 2nd, 2008. Total Combat has also just announced a partnership with MTV3 which will be the new home of Total Combat.
For more info, full fight card and to purchase tickets you can visit: www.totalcombat.tv or http://www.sycuan.com/ringside or call: (619)392-4660