Court McGee Retires After TKO Loss to Eric Nolan at UFC 332

Court McGee retired from mixed martial arts after Eric Nolan stopped him in the third round of their welterweight bout in the opening fight of UFC 332 in Salt Lake City.

McGee pressed the pace early, leaning on his boxing and wrestling to control Nolan in the first round, though Nolan landed a hard shot late in the round that stunned him. McGee recovered between rounds and kept working in the second. Nolan turned things around in the third round, landing repeated shots on McGee before closing the show with a right hand that put McGee on the canvas for the stoppage.

McGee addressed the crowd afterward in a short retirement speech inside the octagon.

"Thank you to everybody who came," McGee said. "Listen, none of this would be possible, 20 years I got sober, and 16 of those I've been fighting the best guys in the world. My hat's off to Eric. I left everything in this cage every time I fought. I grew up 20 miles from here. Don't let anybody tell you you can't achieve your dreams."

McGee's Career Closes at 22-15

Court McGee walks away with a professional record of 22-15, closing out a UFC run that began with him winning season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2010. The fight against Nolan was his 25th under the UFC banner, and over that span he picked up notable wins that included a victory over Robert Whittaker. He fought in front of his home-state crowd in Salt Lake City for his final appearance, a fitting bookend for a Utah native who built his career largely in the welterweight division.

What the Finish Means for Eric Nolan

Eric Nolan heads into his next outing with a signature finish on his resume, having needed only three rounds to get a veteran like McGee out of there after absorbing some punishment of his own early on. A stoppage win over a well-known name like McGee tends to move a fighter up the matchmaking ladder, and Nolan's performance, including the composure to come back and finish after a tough opening stretch, is the kind of tape that UFC matchmakers notice when building the next card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Court McGee retire?

Court McGee announced his retirement from MMA immediately after losing to Eric Nolan via third-round stoppage at UFC 332, closing out his career with a speech inside the octagon.

What was Court McGee's final MMA record?

Court McGee retired with a professional record of 22-15 after his loss to Eric Nolan at UFC 332.

How did Eric Nolan beat Court McGee at UFC 332?

Eric Nolan stopped Court McGee in the third round of their welterweight bout at UFC 332, landing a right hand that finished the fight after McGee had pressured him in the first two rounds.