Court McGee Not Thinking Retirement Ahead of UFC 332 Finale

Court McGee says retirement is the last thing on his mind heading into his farewell fight against Eric Nolan at UFC 332 on Saturday in Salt Lake City. The 41-year-old welterweight, a Utah native and former Ultimate Fighter winner, has already decided this will be his last walk to the octagon, but he's refusing to treat fight week like a victory lap.

"I'm not focused too much on retirement or what's after," McGee said. "I've still got to make weight. There's still so much to do before I step in the cage."

Why McGee Isn't Changing His Approach for His Last Fight

McGee is running his final camp exactly like every other camp that came before it. Some fighters use a last fight to gamble, unveil a new wrinkle or just let it fly since there's no tomorrow to worry about. McGee says that's not him. He built this camp around the same structure and the same voices he's leaned on for years. "I have a structure, I have a process that I go through," McGee said, describing a camp built around brutal conditioning and heavy input from his coaches and training partners. He pointed to teammates who fought recently as proof the room is peaking at the right time, calling the training "tough" and the preparation as hard as any camp he's had.

That discipline tracks with how McGee has always operated. He's a grinder who has made a 15-year UFC and Ultimate Fighter run out of pressure, conditioning and toughness rather than flash, and he's not rewriting the formula in the final week.

The Matchup and What It Means for Bettors

Eric Nolan enters as the betting favorite over Court McGee, with sportsbooks pricing Nolan at around -238 and McGee sitting near +195 as of fight week. Nolan, an 8-5 pro, is younger and comes in with momentum, while McGee (22-14) is fighting as a sizable live underdog in what amounts to a farewell bout on his home turf in Salt Lake City.

That number reflects a real form gap, but McGee's history says count him out at your own risk. He's a durable, hard-nosed veteran who has spoiled favorites before, and a hometown crowd behind him only adds motivation. Bettors weighing the plus-money underdog aren't betting on sentiment alone. McGee's camp reports have been genuinely upbeat, and he says his conditioning and preparation are on par with any fight of his career. For bettors, that's the case for live underdog value rather than a walkover for the favorite, even if the number makes Nolan the deserved choice on paper.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Court McGee fighting in his retirement fight?

Court McGee is fighting Eric Nolan at UFC 332 on Saturday, October 3 in Salt Lake City, in what McGee has said will be the final fight of his career.

Is Court McGee the betting favorite against Eric Nolan?

No, Eric Nolan is the betting favorite over Court McGee at UFC 332, with sportsbooks listing Nolan around -238 and McGee around +195 as of fight week.

Is Court McGee changing his fight strategy since it's his last fight?

No, Court McGee said he is preparing for his fight against Eric Nolan exactly as he has for any other camp, relying on his usual structure, coaches and training partners rather than taking extra risks.