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Jamaican to fight for MMA’s US$1m bounty
November 22, 2022
On Friday, United States of America-born Jamaican Mix Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Dilano Taylor will take on Professional Fighters League (PFL) veteran Sadibou Sy in the World Championship welterweight final at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden for US$1 million, one of combat sports' biggest prizes.
Taylor secured a play-off spot after his PFL Challenger Series win earlier this year, however, after being eliminated by Magomed Magomedkerimov, he was called back to replace the Russian, who had visa issues. Taylor has made the most of his recall.
"I was given the opportunity to be in the challenger series and not even guarantee if I would be in the PFL regular series. So I just did the best I could with that. They called me and asked me if I want to be an alternate, I said 'okay, no problem, what's the date, location and the time and I'll be there'," he said in the final promotional video.
Victories over Joao Zeferino of Brazil and then Canada's Rory McDonald secured Taylor's place in Friday's lucrative final.
"They called me again and say would you like to fight Rory McDonald, I said 'Rory McDonald, yeah I'm ready, I'll fight him, that's cool, let's run it'," he continued.
"He (Sy) is a good boxer. He is the Swedish Denzel (Washington) but that is all he is, the Swedish Denzel. I think he more wants to go out and be pretty and that is fine. We can leave it at that, he can stay pretty," Taylor mocked.
He warned that for his two previous fights he was only called in at short notice, but with sufficient time to get ready for this encounter, his best is yet to come.
"People are actually going to see me prepare for somebody I have to fight as opposed to a short-notice fight. I am going to walk away with his belt. I am going to walk away a million dollars richer. Simple," he added.
The 25-year-old argues that his Jamaican background is an essential part of what makes him the fighter he is and his family is fully behind him.
"Being born here (USA) and raised with a Jamaican culture puts a lot in my mind that you can do a lot with a little. You can do anything you want as long as you have enough and this is more than enough," Taylor said.
His mother Diane Stephenson agrees that his Jamaican mindset is a factor in his success while his youngest brother Bryce is eager to emulate him.
"Jamaicans are amazing people, strong people. We fight for what we want. We do not give up on what we want. If we want it, we are going to get it because we are not going to stop fighting until we get it," Stephenson stated.
"When I grow up I want to be like my brother, Postman," Bryce said.
His other brother Dylan believes it's Dilano's moment.
"This is his time now, he got this. One thing I can safely say is that I believe in my brother 100 per cent," Dylan said.
His opponent Sy is not underestimating the Jamaican.
"Every fight is different. I believe that he's going to be the best Dilano and he's going to come prepared," Sy said.
