Jesse Taylor (born January 2, 1983 in Poway, California) is a American professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter 7 , winning his entry, preliminary, quarterfinal and semi-final matches, and then became the only fighter to ever be removed from finals due to events that occurred after filming was completed (see Removal from the Finals below).

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. Since Quinton Jackson got the first pick for fighters, Forrest Griffin got to choose the first preliminary fight. Griffin chose Taylor to take on Mike Dolce, with Taylor again winning by Rear Naked Choke, in the second round.

Taylor's quarterfinal fight was against Dante Rivera, which he also won, this time by 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.

During the show, Taylor was shown drunk several times. On one occasion he's shown urinating on himself in front of other cast members.

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.

Dana 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 fucking life together, fucking call me in a few months."

In July 29 the Wrestling Observer reported that Jesse Taylor had been released from the UFC. The likely reason for this was his loss to C.B. Dollaway, which many had expected would lead to Taylor being dropped by the organization. There are also rumors circling that some negative comments made about the UFC by Taylor - along with doubts by the UFC management if he was following through with his Alcoholics Anonymous meetings - contributed to him being let go by the organization.