WSOF 10's Jesse Taylor balances unusual layoff with fulfilling title destiny

Jesse Taylor has had layoffs in excess of six months before, like this one.

But they sure haven’t happened often, and he sure wouldn’t prefer them.

“If it was up to me, I’d still be fighting every month or so,” Taylor told MMAjunkie Radio. “I guess when you get to this stage, a big title opportunity, things kind of slow down a bit. The thing with me, though, is I’m not slowing down. I didn’t slow down in the gym at all. I got a lot more time to get a lot better, and I’m ready to go now.”

What Taylor (27-9) is ready to go for is the inaugural middleweight title fight for WSOF, which takes place against David Branch (13-3) tonight in the main event of WSOF 10.

WSOF 10 takes place at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The main card airs on NBC Sports Network following prelims that stream on MMAjunkie.

“When you’re fighting all the time, your body’s way better,” Taylor said. “These long training camps are what kills your body. When you’re fighting all the time, you’re in the gym three, four, five weeks training hard, you do a fight, you take a fight and you’re back at it. When it’s spread out like this, I started 10 weeks ago and it got pushed back a couple times. It’s a grind on the body and I think it’s harder on the body when the fights are spread out like this.”

Taylor hasn’t fought since a December decision win over Elvis Mutapcic at WSOF 7. The title fight with Branch will be his first of 2014.

In 2013, he fought three times – the lowest full-year output of his pro career (not counting 2008, when he had fights on Season 8 of “The Ultimate Fighter” that weren’t official). From 2010-12, he fought five times a year. Back in the day, in ’09, he was doing the thing nine times.

But with bigger fights typically come bigger periods of time off. They also bring bigger opportunities, like Taylor’s shot at a major MMA title tonight against Branch.

The Team Quest-based fighter has a well-rounded game, but it’s his ground skills that typically can set him apart with more than half of his 27 wins by submission.

That may not come as easily against Branch, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. But that’s all the more reason why Taylor might just want to test himself there against the fellow UFC vet.

“I think it’s awesome when guys go strength to strength sometimes,” he said. “Fight a good wrestler, and you outwrestle him. Fight a good boxer, and you outbox him. But I want to test him out and see how good he is down there – and I’ll definitely be hunting for my own submissions. I think it would be an awesome award to submit a black belt at his high level.”

And if that happens, it’ll mean WSOF’s middleweight title – something Taylor believes he’s preordained to hold.

“There’s more pressure, but once that cage door closes, I’ve got to fulfill my destiny,” he said. “Every fight, I’ve got my worries. But I’m very confident right now, at peace, and ready to showcase my skills.”

For the latest on WSOF 10, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

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