Court McGee retires after 16 years and 29 UFC fights with a heartfelt farewell

Court McGee ended his UFC career on 3 October at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, suffering a third-round technical knockout loss to Eric Nolan before placing his gloves on the canvas in a deliberate farewell gesture. The 22-15 veteran had competed in the promotion for 16 years across 29 fights, including his time on the reality series that launched his career.

In a statement posted to X two days after the bout, McGee reflected on the full arc of a journey that began when he won Season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2010 and earned his first UFC contract. He described the Salt Lake City card — fought in front of his home fans — as the first time he had allowed himself to slow down and absorb the experience.

“For the first time, I was able to slow down and truly experience it all — the weeks leading up to the fight, fight week, the walk to the Octagon, and everyone who’s been beside me through the highs and lows,” McGee wrote. “Including the 13 coaches and training partners we’ve lost. RIP.”

McGee, nicknamed “The Crusher”, was candid about the performance itself, acknowledging it fell short of his best while refusing to let that diminish the moment. “I gave this sport everything I had. Sometimes my best was great. Sometimes it was just okay. Saturday night, I was okay — and okay is good enough for me,” he said.

His career carried a weight beyond sport. McGee overcame addiction before turning professional in MMA, a backstory that made his longevity at the highest level of the sport all the more significant. His final record of 22 wins and 15 losses across a decade and a half in the Octagon stands as a testament to that resilience.

“I’m grateful for the wins, the losses, the lessons, the people, and every damn moment in between,” he added. “What a journey. Thank you.”