Court McGee fought the final bout of his career on October 3 in Salt Lake City, Utah, roughly twenty miles from where he grew up. The 41-year-old welterweight was stopped by TKO in the third round by Eric Nolan at UFC 332, then pulled off his gloves inside the Octagon to announce his retirement in front of his hometown crowd.
A Decisive Finish
The welterweight bout (170 pounds / 77 kilograms) turned steadily in Eric Nolan’s favor. McGee was dropped by an elbow late in round one. Round two was closely contested, with judges scoring it 19-19. Nolan then poured on the offense in round three, battering McGee with punches until the referee stepped in at 3 minutes 26 seconds. The 29-year-old Nolan, who came in at 9-5, snapped a two-fight UFC losing streak and picked up his first win inside the Octagon.
Gloves Off, Message to the Crowd
As soon as the fight was called, McGee removed his gloves and set them down on the canvas, the traditional signal that a career has ended. He then took the microphone from commentator Joe Rogan to address the crowd directly, thanking his family and supporters before explaining his decision. The UFC aired a tribute package covering his career and charity work as the Utah native soaked in the ovation.
“None of this would have been possible,” he said. “Twenty years I got sober, and sixteen of those years I’ve been fighting the best guys in the world. My hat’s off to Eric. Don’t let anybody tell you you can’t achieve your dreams.”
A Career Built on Recovery
McGee first reached the UFC by winning The Ultimate Fighter season 11 in June 2010, beating Kris McCary in the finale. His path there started with painkillers prescribed for a teenage injury, a dependency that progressed to heroin and cocaine before he got sober. Winning the show became the turning point for both his personal life and his fighting career, and it has remained the throughline of nearly every post-fight interview he has given since.
Sixteen Years in the UFC and a Signature Win Over Robert Whittaker
McGee leaves the sport with a 22-15 overall record, going 11-14 across sixteen years inside the UFC. His signature win came by split decision over Robert Whittaker in 2013, before the Australian went on to become UFC middleweight champion. McGee also holds victories over Tim Means, Ramiz Brahimaj, Alex Garcia and Claudio Silva, with losses to the likes of Sean Strickland, Carlos Condit, Sean Brady and Michael Chiesa along the way. His last win in the Octagon came at UFC 307 in October 2024, also against Tim Means. No coaching role or other plans have been announced so far.
Tributes From Across the Sport
The retirement drew tributes from across MMA media. Journalist Ariel Helwani called it “what an inspiration, what a life, respect,” while Danny Segura noted that the sport “almost never gives you a happy ending.” Fellow reporter Aaron Bronsteter said McGee “will always be a winner,” pointing to both his sobriety milestone and his sixteen years in the organization. Nolan himself paid tribute to McGee immediately after the finish, praising the length of his career and saying he would gladly take half as long a UFC run if it carried the same weight.
Reporter Mike Bohn also pointed out that Nolan used his own post-fight interview to praise McGee’s career rather than celebrate the win outright, a detail several outlets picked up as a sign of the respect McGee commands inside the locker room. Fans in the arena stayed on their feet through the tribute video, extending an ovation that lasted well after McGee had left the cage.
Across sixteen years in the welterweight division, McGee shared the Octagon with rising prospects and established contenders alike, a run that outlasted most of his peers from his Ultimate Fighter season. That longevity, more than any single result, is what colleagues and opponents kept returning to in the hours after the stoppage.
UFC 332 keeps the promotion’s packed fall schedule moving, between stateside cards and trips abroad. Full results and what is next for the promotion are available on our UFC results page and the 2026 UFC schedule.
