After almost 20 years of fighting professionally in MMA, Court McGee has decided to hang up the gloves.
McGee (22-14 MMA, 11-13 UFC), who won season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2010, will be competing in his final fight this Saturday at UFC 332 (Paramount+) in Salt Lake City. He'll be taking on Eric Nolan (8-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) in a welterweight bout. Retirement has been something that's lingered in the mind of McGee for several years now. In fact, the last time he signed a new contract with the UFC, McGee knew it was going to be his last.
"Yeah, it's a retirement fight, but I knew it a couple of years ago when I signed this four-fight deal, so I knew it was coming to an end, and I felt confident with it," McGee told MMA Junkie. "Before that, with the
neck injury, I thought I was done and I was going to leave a fight on the table, and after fulfilling that last one, I hadn't felt that good in years. I feel really good. I feel really healthy, but I'm 41 and I'll be turning 42 this year. Like they say, it's a young man's sport, and I want to make sure I have my wits about me when I'm done. I have three kids; I'm married. I have a gym. There's a lot of life ahead of me after 40. I feel good about my decision. I made that decision with those who are close to me, and I'm OK with it. I've made peace with it."
McGee prioritized health when making his decision to retire from MMA. He feels healthy, especially after having neck surgery before fighting Alex Morono in 2024, and wants to keep it that way. He feels continuing to fight could compromise his body.
"Leaving healthy is my biggest concern now. I've had the neck surgery. I think maybe I've had 17 or 18 pretty major surgeries, so that's the thing," McGee said. "I feel healthy now and I have my wits about me. It's still lucrative to continue to fight, but what are you doing it for? Is it the payday? I don't want to end and just be in shambles, and right now I feel healthy, but not, 'Hey, I feel healthy – let's negotiate four more.' I want to continue to feel healthy."
Apart from trying to preserve his health, something that's hard to do in combat sports, UFC 332 takes place in his home state, setting up the perfect scenario to say goodbye to MMA.
"The cool thing is the opportunity to finish in Salt Lake City, in my home state, 30 minutes from where I grew up and about 45 minutes from where I live now," McGee said. "It couldn't have worked out better. The last fight of the end of my contract is in my home state after 16 years? Bro, when does that happen? I'm more just grateful for the opportunity to finish here in Utah."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Court McGee explains factors in retirement decision before UFC 332
