Court McGee Retires After UFC 332 Loss, Closes 16-Year Run

Court McGee has retired from the UFC after a third-round technical knockout loss to Eric Nolan at UFC 332 on Oct. 3 in Salt Lake City, announcing the decision inside the Octagon moments after the fight ended.

The loss closed out a 16-year run with the promotion for McGee, who finished his career with a 22-15 record across 29 total appearances, including his run on "The Ultimate Fighter" season 11, which he won in 2010 to earn his first UFC contract. Fighting in front of his home fans at Delta Center, McGee took the stoppage loss but chose to walk away on his own terms rather than let the result define the moment.

Two days later, McGee posted a lengthy statement on X reflecting on the finality of it all. "Saturday night was my last fight in the UFC," he wrote. "16 years. 29 fights, including my time in the Ultimate Fighter house. One hell of a journey. I didn't get my hand raised, but I'm incredibly proud of my performance, proud of my opponent, and genuinely happy for him." He said the fight allowed him, for the first time, to slow down and absorb the full experience, from fight week to the walk to the cage, and he used the post to honor 13 coaches and training partners he has lost over the years. "I gave this sport everything I had," McGee wrote. "Sometimes my best was great. Sometimes it was just okay. Saturday night, I was okay, and okay is good enough for me."

What Court McGee's Retirement Means for His UFC Legacy

Court McGee leaves the UFC as one of the promotion's longest-tenured veterans, a fighter whose career stretched from his 2010 "Ultimate Fighter" title run through 16 years of Octagon appearances. McGee built his name as a gritty, come-forward welterweight and middleweight who overcame addiction before turning pro, and his willingness to say yes to tough matchups late in his career, including a homecoming fight against a younger opponent in Nolan, fits the arc of a fighter who valued the experience over padding a win total. Finishing at 22-15 with 29 total trips to the cage puts him among a small group of fighters whose UFC tenure doubled as a career-long arc the promotion could point to as a TUF success story.

Betting Angle

Court McGee's retirement fight carried little betting relevance once he was already a clear longshot against a younger opponent in Eric Nolan, and the finish by TKO in the third round lined up with how books and bettors viewed the matchup going in. The bigger market impact now shifts to Eric Nolan, who picked up a notable veteran scalp in front of a partisan Salt Lake City crowd and should see his stock and his odds improve in any future UFC booking. For prop bettors and futures markets, McGee's exit also closes the book on any longshot legacy or retirement-tour betting angles tied to his name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Court McGee retire from the UFC?

Court McGee announced his retirement inside the Octagon immediately after losing to Eric Nolan via third-round technical knockout at UFC 332 on Oct. 3, 2026, in Salt Lake City, choosing to end his career on his own terms after 16 years with the promotion.

What was Court McGee's final UFC record?

Court McGee finished his career with a 22-15 record across 29 total fights, including his appearances on 'The Ultimate Fighter,' which he won in season 11 in 2010 to earn his UFC contract.

Who beat Court McGee in his last UFC fight?

Eric Nolan defeated Court McGee by third-round technical knockout at UFC 332, the fight that prompted McGee's in-cage retirement announcement.