Court McGee is ready to close the book on a UFC career that has stretched across more than 16 years.
The former Ultimate Fighter Season 11 winner has announced that his upcoming bout at UFC 332 will be the final fight of his professional career. McGee will make his farewell appearance on Oct. 3 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
It will be a fitting place for McGee to call it a career. The Utah native will get the opportunity to compete in front of a home-state crowd one final time while making what will be his 29th appearance inside the UFC Octagon.
After joining the promotion through The Ultimate Fighter in 2010, McGee became one of the UFC’s longest-serving veterans. Sixteen years later, the 41-year-old is preparing to make the walk for the final time.
McGee Confirms Retirement Plans
McGee shared the news in a video posted to social media, explaining that the decision has been years in the making.
“I signed my final contract.”
“I’ve negotiated my last either five or six contracts, usually four-fight deals — actually, all of them are four-fight deals, but I signed my last fight in my last four-fight contract.”
McGee also revealed that retirement was originally on his mind before undergoing neck surgery.
“I was going to retire before I had my neck surgery, and I had it, and I came back and renegotiated, and this will be my final fight in my four-fight contract.”
A UFC Career That Spanned More Than 16 Years
Over more than a decade in the UFC, McGee has shared the Octagon with several fighters who went on to hold championship gold, including Robert Whittaker, Sean Strickland and Carlos Condit. Consistency was not always easy to find, but McGee built his reputation on durability, grit and a willingness to take on difficult opposition.
McGee enters UFC 332 following a unanimous decision loss to Michael Chiesa and has dropped four of his last five fights.
Now 41, the longtime veteran gets the chance to finish his career on familiar ground. With his retirement fight taking place in Utah, McGee will be able to make his final walk to the Octagon in front of a home-state crowd.
“I’m 41 years old, I’ve been competing in the UFC since 2010 with the four fights in The Ultimate Fighter house… this will make it my 29th UFC fight.”
“A little nostalgic, and it will be here in Salt Lake City. So, that’s exciting and preparations are underway.”