25-fight UFC veteran retires after being viciously knocked out in front of home crowd at UFC 332

UFC 332 kicked off with a fan favorite leaving his gloves on the mat after 25 fights for the sport’s biggest promotion.

Ogden, Utah native Court McGee was given the show opening slot for tonight’s event. He managed to draw a solid crowd for the first fight of the night to watch him take on Eric Nolan, who had yet to score a victory under the UFC banner.

McGee had announced before the event that he would be retiring no matter how the bout ended, and lived up to his promise. He and Nolan offered up an exciting fight that ended with a brutal third round knockout, and after the fact the former TUF winner asked Dana White for a Fight of the Night bonus.

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Court McGee retires in UFC 332 opener

Back in 2010, Court McGee earned his spot in the UFC by winning season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter. He stayed with the promotion for 16 years, still being offered fights despite losing four of his last five fights and turning 41 last year.

McGee’s best win is probably his split decision victory over future world champion Robert Whittaker, but he faced a who’s who of top welterweights during his over a decade-and-a-half in the big leagues. He announced prior to UFC 332 that he would be retiring in his home state.

Eric Nolan – winless in the UFC to this point – was tasked with sending McGee into retirement and thought he might have done it when he dropped his rival hard in the final second of round one. The veteran recovered well and arguably won the second with some solid shots of his own.

Heading into the third and final round of McGee’s career it truly seemed like anyone’s fight. Both men clearly knew that and swung for the fences, looking for the one big shot that would bring the night to a close.

With two minutes left on the clock, Nolan managed to fight the shot that wobbled McGee and he saw blood in the water. He had to take one big counter shot before landing a massive shot on the chin that put the veteran out cold.

After being booed by the home fans, Nolan opted to offer the microphone to McGee who gave Joe Rogan an inspirational message. “None of this would be possible if I hadn’t got sober 20 years ago,” he explained. “16 of those I’ve fought in this octagon.”