I spoke to Jesse the day after the last episode of the Ultimate fighter aired. He had quite alot to say. This was his first interview after the show aired.

What have you been up to?

It’s been crazy today. I had to turn my phone off. I just turned it back on and had 20 messages. I just got a sheet of paper and made a list of people to call back.

How did you get started in MMA?
I was wrestling in college and a buddy of mine asked me to do a workout at Team Quest. I came up there and helped out some fighters. I liked it more than wrestling. There’s no money in wrestling after college. I have a kid and fighting was the best opportunity to make money. I get to do something I really love and make decent money. Why not?

Didn’t you used to train with Jake Shields?
I trained with Jake and Gilbert Melendez very little. I left to go to San Francisco State and I met them. At the time Gilbert was just getting into MMA. Jake was starting and he tried to get me started but I chose to keep on wrestling. I still stay in contact with them.

How important was Team Quest in your progression as your mixed martial artist?
They are awesome. As you know that cater to wrestlers. They have strong wrestlers. It was a good fit for me. We have great standup guys like Dan Henderson, Sokodjou, Mayhem Miller, and several more. It really helps. Everyday I train there it’s a who’s who of MMA.

Who gives you the toughest time in practice?

Everytime I spar with Mayhem it’s a fight. But Dan Henderson definitely punches in the face the hardest.

How did you get selected for the Ultimate Fighter?

I got lucky, I had a pretty decent record. I was an up and coming fighter. I was already with Team Quest. They called and asked me and I said sure. The next thing I know I was on the show.

What did you think when you saw 31 other guys at the gym?
When I first walked in there I knew something was up. I didn’t know what. I thought we might be fighting. It was one thing I agreed with Dana on.

Matt Brown told me that you had to come in at 190 or you were sent home.

Yeah, if we weren’t we were told we would get sent home.

What did you think of Matt Riddle’s knockout of Simmler?
It was a great knockout. You gotta have a good chin or a decent defense or that shit will happen to you.

It was really strange to see that guy lying there moaning.

Yeah, at first I was worried. I thought Oh my God. But that’s the sport we all chose.

How classy is Tim Creduer? He helped train you before he fought you.
I can’t say enough good things about Tim. The more I watch the show the more impressed I am. Especially watching the show last night. He has the heart of a lion. He’s a very good friend of mine. I can’t even put it into words about how great a guy he is.

Where you disappointed you didn’t get to fight CB? You wound up fighting Tim instead.
Yeah, I was disappointed at the time. And watching the show it was bullshit. Sooner or later that is a fight that is bound to happen.

What was the best fight during the taping?
I could be selfish and say my fight but I’d have to say that the fight last night with CB and Tim. That showed a lot of what Tim is all about.

Did you know that CB and Tim was going to fight?

I had heard rumors about it and I knew the outcome. But I never saw it. It was cool to see. CB didn’t want any of Tim on the ground. CB had a smart gameplan. I think it showed some of his weaknesses though.

I thought Tim was out in the 2nd round but he fought through.

Tim would’ve won the fight. The only thing he was lacking was power. He had better kickboxing and everything. He just didn’t hurt CB/ I don’t know how he made it through the 2nd round. That comeback was amazing. I don’t see how he recovered.

How bad did you want to fight CB?

I wanted it bad. I got along with CB but I didn’t like his arrogance. I got sick of hearing his name and this and that. It was getting ridiculous. They crowned him champion before he even fought. I just wanted to fight the guy.

In your mind who was the favorite to win the contract when you got in the house?

CB or Tim, I could say myself but everyone kind of thought CB.

Did you have a preference as to who your coach would be?
Actually for the very first fight I had Rampage. But once we got into the house I was on Forrest team’s. I got to know Forrest and I feel I was lucky to be on the best team. But I didn’t have a preference going in.

Was it all editing or did Rampage and Forrest get along really well?

They get along real good. In the heat of the battle sometimes they got into it but they did get along.

Were you there when Forrest kicked that door in?

Yeah, I was outside and I saw the whole fiasco and thought “Oh Shit!”

I had heard that Mike Dolce is telling everyone that he was injured during your fight. Do you think it would have made a difference had he been 100% or not?
You know I get along with Mike. I like him a lot. I had heard that too. He was injured but I don’t thnk it would’ve mattered. I don’t know if he was running his mouth or not but injured or not I would’ve won.

Who do you think will win the Rampage-Forrest fight?
Everyone is saying Rampage. But mark my words. Forrest wins the fight. If he doesn’t get hit with a one of Rampage’s power shots Forrest has better work ethic and will overcome and be the new champ.
What did you think when Dana called asked you to come back to Vegas?
I had no idea. I thought I was going back to do interviews.I know I did something wrong. It was the only negative experience I had being dicked around like that. It was a very big shock as people saw.

When did you think something was up?

When I saw that TV in there with them. I knew something was up. Dana said look at the TV and I thought “Oh Fuck.”

That night in Vegas do you remember kicking out the window?

Vaguely, I don’t want to shift the blame but when I get drunk I get egged on pretty easily. I was wrestling around with the boys. I just took it too far.

Did you think it would catch back up to you or no one would find out?

I paid for the window that night. I thought it was done. I took care of the problem I thought it was over with.

Who was with you?

Me, CB, Matt Riddle, Bader and a couple of groupie chicks.

Do you feel you matchup well with Amir?

Yeah, Amir is a good friend of mine. He was on my team. But matchup-wise I would’ve smashed him or finished him or beat on him the whole time. I knew his style was very calculated. It may not seem like it but I am too. It was a good matchup for me.
I think Amir has the biggest heart. He has no quit in him. You have to kill him to stop him.

Do you think the UFC will have you back?

I tried to call Dana a couple of times. My management team and Dan Henderson seem to think they will probably have me back. It’s a pretty complicated situation. I just want to fight again and put food on my sons plate and make money for me and my family. That’s the deal. But if they want to low ball me and kick me around I’ll have to ask me for my release. There’s a lot of other organizations out there

I do want to stay in the UFC because they have the best fighters. But I have to see who will pay the bills and let me fight.

So you are under contract with the UFC?

Yeah, I’m still with the UFC. I haven’t been released. Again, if they don’t allow me to fight in the next few months I’m going to have to asked to be released. I have to make money.

How long is your contract?

It says 3 years but could be released at any time. I’m pretty sure if I asked to be released they’d release me. I’m at a place in my life where I have to make a decision. After the finale I may have to make a decision.

So you don’t have anything lined up?

I’m training my ass off. I’m pretty sure the UFC wil have something lined up for me after this week. If not, I will definitely be fighting in the next month at the earliest. Maybe 3 months at the latest.

Has any other organizations tried to contact you?

No, they may have tried to contact my agent but I’m still with the UFC and I don’t think they can.

Have you given up drinking?

Yeah, I cut back then I realized this is no good for me. I’m done with drinking.

When you got back from talking to Dana how did you keep the secret from everyone?
I didn’t tell anyone. I couldn’t. I told my friend who picked me up at the airport to just drive when he picked me up. I didn’t want to go home. After last night it was a shocker to everyone. I told my family something happened but they didn’t know the severity of it.

It had to be disappointing.

Yeah, it really was but I’ll tell you what it really fuels me. The next time I fight it’s going to be awesome. I cannot wait to fight again.

Your story could be something that could help someone who is struggling with alcohol.

I’m a person like everyone else. I fucked up. I want a second chance to prove myself. I want to redeem myself as soon as possible and what better way then by fighting.

You have a little boy you are trying to provide for.

That’s my life right there. He is going to be 4 in July. I make a goal every year. This year I want to to buy a house.

Can you blame Dana for punishing you?

I think the punishment was severe. I think he’ll give me another chance. I hope he does. He could’ve brushed it under the rug. I’m sure he’s done that for other fighters but he chose to not do so. I deserved some kind of punishment. I know I fucked up. But I feel I earned that chance to win the contract and I should be fighting.

Who do you pick to win the the fight between CB and Amir?

As much as I want Amir to win. CB has a better chance. It’s hard to beat someone twice especially with someone with CB’s talents. But Amir suprises me all the time. As much as I don’t want to I have to go with CB.

Out of the other guys in the house who do you think has the best chance to have a good career in the UFC?

Me, CB, Amir, Tim, Cale, Gerald Harris, and Mike Dolce. I’m probably forgetting somebody. Out of everyone I’d say 8 of us will do well.

Cale is fighting Tim at the finale. Who is your pick?

I think Tim has too much experience. Cale has a lot of power and could catch him but Tim is very good. I have to go with Tim.

What about Matt Riddle and Dante?

Dante is suprising. He didn’t do well against me. I shut him down. But Dante has good kicks. I think Riddle will get caught. It could go either way but I have to go with Dante on that one.

Did you make peace with Jeremy May?

I think Jeremy is an ignorant motherfucker. I know the show portrays the people a certain way and it’s hard to live in the house. Thing’s happen, it’s weird. I gave him chance after chance to redeem himself. I’ll give him another chance but it’s mixed feeling. I don’t think many people don’t like the guy.

With no TV’s, magazines, or internet and alcohol anytime you want it is it an environment that fuels bad things? Do they want that for the cameras.

Yeah, of course they want it for the cameras. They encourage us to destroy the house. Then when the show is over and you do something with alcohol and you screw up it’s a big deal. I’m sure other guys on the show on other seasons have done the same thing but you never heard about it.

They actually encourage you to destroy the house?

Not they don’t encourage it but they don’t try to stop it.

How cool is it to have food anytime you want?

Oh yeah, it was the best part. We could eat whatever we wanted the entire time we were there.

What was the best meal you had while you were there?

White Castle Cheeseburgers with Ranch

Was there anybody in the house you would’ve like to fight but didn’t get too.

CB, I matched up with really good with everyone but I wanted to fight the best guy. I thought I could beat him.

Don’t you have your own website?

Yeah, YoJTMoney.com. I have poetry on there. I write blogs here and there. If sponsors are interested they can get on there to find out about me.

Did you write the poetry when you were sober?

(laughs) Yeah I did, I was sober. It probably doesn’t make a lot of sense but if you can figure it out all the props to you. I’m more creative when I’m drunk.

What’s a normal day for you as far as a workout routine?

I don’t have an offseason. If I don’t have a fight coming up I still run, lift and spar. If I have a fight I just step it up a little more. I get more sports specific workout I either grapple with light sparring in the morning. Then I come back later and do more MMA and sparring.

Do you eat whatever you want all the time like the show portrayed you?

Yeah, I would say that but I do eat healthy too. I eat healthy sometimes but I eat bad sometimes. They just didn’t show me eating healthy.

Are you happy with how you were portrayed on the show?

It’s a little creative editing but what you see is what you get. I’m not as dumb as they made me sound. I guess that’s how they made my image. I was a loveable dumb guy.

Do loveable dumb guys get more chicks?

Yeah, anything to help you get laid.

Who are some of your favorite fighters to watch?

I like Dan Henderson, Anderson Silva, Wanderleigh Silva, Sokodjou. Urijah Faber is a lot of fun to watch.

What do you think of all the hype surrounding Kimbo Slice?

He has no wrestling or ground game really. But I think he has potential but still a long way to go. James Thompson isn’t the best fighter.

Anything else you want to say to the fans?

Yeah, just keep supporting JTMoney. Check out the website!

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 8th, 2008 at 12:06 am and is filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.