Court McGee

Career Boxing career In addition to his Mixed Martial Arts career, McGee has also compiled a 2–0 record as a professional boxer in the cruiserweight division. Both fights took place in 2008, in between his MMA career. having defeated Hank Weiss in an MMA fight just days earlier.

Mixed martial arts career Early career McGee started his MMA career in 2007 in his home state of Utah, compiling a record of 10–1, with two technical knockouts and five submission wins. Two notable fights occurred during this period, with a submission win over DaMarques Johnson and a loss to Jeremy Horn. McGee was scheduled to compete in December 2008 against Ray Lazama for the Gladiator Challenge Middleweight title. However, the bout never transpired for unknown reasons. McGee instead faced Dayle Jarvis in July 2009. In what would turn out to be his final appearance on the local MMA circuit, McGee won by a Technical Knockout (TKO) over his opponent in under four minutes. McGee was later picked by Chuck Liddell as his sixth pick and twelfth overall.

McGee was then defeated by the show's number one pick Nick Ring in the sixth preliminary fight. After two rounds, the judges declared the fight a victory for Ring via majority decision (20–18, 19–19, 20–18). Dana White and Chuck Liddell both stated that the fight should have gone to a third round.

When Rich Attonito broke his hand, his spot in the quarter-finals became open. Due to the controversial loss to Ring, White selected McGee to fight in his place. In the quarter-finals, McGee was set to have a rematch with Ring, but Ring pulled out of the competition due to a knee injury. James Hammortree stepped in as Ring's replacement. Early in the second round, McGee submitted Hammortree with a rare standing guillotine choke.

In the semi-finals he faced teammate Brad Tavares to earn a spot in the live finale. After a fairly even first two rounds, McGee dropped Tavares late in the third round with a left hook and locked in a fight-ending rear naked choke.

This advanced him to the TUF 11 finale where he faced Team Ortiz/Franklin fighter, Kris McCray in the main event. McGee spent half of his training camp away from his usual gym "Victory MMA", instead preferring to stick with his Ultimate Fighter coach, Chuck Liddell at The Pit. McGee defeated McCray by submission in the second round with a rear naked choke, making him the winner of the Ultimate Fighter Season 11, despite all the difficulties and bad luck he encountered on the show. McGee was also awarded the Submission of the Night award. Early in the first round, McGee was hit with a stiff shot that dropped him and later suffered a minor cut below his eye. In the second round, Jensen began to visibly tire and after being hit, began to bleed from the nose. McGee won the second round after a takedown just before the bell. In the third round, McGee successfully executed a takedown and a full mount, where he secured an arm triangle choke to force the tapout at 1:21 of the third round.

McGee was expected to face Jesse Bongfeldt on June 11, 2011, at UFC 131, but was reportedly forced out of the bout due to a knee injury. Matt Serra-trained fighter Chris Weidman stepped up to take McGee's place on the UFC 131 fight card against Bongfeldt.

McGee faced Yang Dongi on September 17, 2011, at UFC Fight Night 25. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

McGee faced Costas Philippou on March 3, 2012, at UFC on FX 2. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

McGee fought Nick Ring in a rematch at UFC 149. McGee lost via a close unanimous decision. For the second time in a bout against Ring, the loss was regarded as controversial by many media sources. Stats after the fight showed that McGee outstruck Ring 32-25 in the second round and 53-16 in the final round. After the fight, McGee said "I felt like I had cage control, was more aggressive, out-struck him and attempted a submission in the third round. I should not have left it in the hands of the judges and finished the fight."

McGee made his welterweight debut against Josh Neer on February 23, 2013, at UFC 157. McGee was victorious, winning a unanimous decision after three rounds. According to Fightmetric, McGee broke the record for most significant strikes landed in a welterweight fight, landing 166 in the three round affair.

McGee faced fellow Ultimate fighter winner Robert Whittaker on August 28, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 27. He won the fight via split decision.

McGee was expected to face Kelvin Gastelum on December 14, 2013, at UFC on Fox 9. However, Gastelum pulled out of the bout with a knee injury and was replaced by Ryan LaFlare. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Following his loss to Ryan LaFlare, McGee was out of action for over 18 months recovering from a litany of injuries. He returned to face Márcio Alexandre Jr. on December 12, 2015, at UFC 194. McGee won the fight by unanimous decision.

McGee faced Santiago Ponzinibbio on April 16, 2016, at UFC on Fox 19. He lost the bout via TKO in the first round.

McGee next faced Dominique Steele on August 6, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 92. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

McGee faced Ben Saunders on January 15, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 103. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

McGee faced Sean Strickland on November 11, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 120. This fight was back and forth for all three rounds and was initially announced a majority draw with scores of 30–27, 29–29, 29–29. After the fight it was revealed there was an error in calculating the judges scorecards and Strickland was declared the winner by unanimous decision.

After an eleven-month hiatus due to shoulder injury and surgeries, McGee returned to face Alex Garcia on October 27, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 138. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

McGee faced Dhiego Lima on April 27, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 150. He lost the fight by split decision.

McGee faced promotional newcomer Sean Brady on October 18, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 6. He lost the fight via a unanimous decision.

McGee faced Carlos Condit on October 4, 2020 at UFC on ESPN 16. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

McGee faced Cláudio Silva on May 22, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 188 He won the fight via unanimous decision.

McGee faced Ramiz Brahimaj on January 15, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 32. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

McGee faced Jeremiah Wells on June 18, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 37. He lost the bout in the first round, getting knocked out by a left hook.

McGee faced Matt Brown at UFC on ABC 4 on May 13, 2023. He lost the bout in the first round, getting knocked out by a right hook.

McGee faced Alex Morono on April 6, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 240. He lost the bout by unanimous decision.

McGee faced Tim Means on October 5, 2024 at UFC 307. He won the fight via a neck crank submission in the first round, marking his first finish and submission since 2010.

McGee faced Michael Chiesa on June 14, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 69. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

In his retirement fight, McGee is scheduled to face Eric Nolan on October 3, 2026 at UFC 332.

Personal life McGee and his wife Chelsea have three sons. The second son's middle name was taken from McGee's friend and Ultimate Fighter coach, Chuck Liddell's first name. McGee is of Irish and Scottish descent.

Heroin addiction McGee is a former heroin addict and in 2005, he was declared clinically dead after overdosing on heroin at his cousin's house

As of his bout against Michael Chiesa, he has stayed drug-free for nearly 7000 days (19 years, 2 months, and 5 days ).

Hope 361 project and addiction campaigner

Since April 2006, McGee has been clean and uses his story to encourage those who may be struggling with addictions of their own. He launched an online project named "Hope 361" where addicts would share their stories and receive positive messages and connect addicts with rehabilitation facilities. McGee regularly visits prisons, rehab and youth correctional facilities, schools and churches and gives speeches on anti-drug campaigns and facilitate rehab programs to those who needed.

The McGee project The McGee Project was established in 2015 and McGee is the motivation speaker where he gives speeches and provide life-saving education to high school and university students, prisons and youth detention centers regarding the disease of addiction, recovery and positive decisions and goal-setting.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighter 11 Middleweight Winner

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Michael Chiesa Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Win

Tim Means Submission (neck crank) UFC 307

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Loss

Alex Morono Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Curtis 2

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Matt Brown KO (punch) UFC on ABC: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Loss

Jeremiah Wells KO (punch) UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett

Austin, Texas, United States Win

Ramiz Brahimaj Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Chikadze

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Cláudio Silva Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Carlos Condit Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Aldana

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Loss

Sean Brady Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman

Boston, Massachusetts, United States Loss

Dhiego Lima Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson

Sunrise, Florida, United States Win

Alex Garcia Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Volkan vs. Smith

Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada Loss

Sean Strickland Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis

Norfolk, Virginia, United States Loss

Ben Saunders Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Penn

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Win

Dominique Steele Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Caceres

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Loss

Santiago Ponzinibbio TKO (punches) UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans

Tampa, Florida, United States Win

Márcio Alexandre Jr. Decision (unanimous) UFC 194

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Ryan LaFlare Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Benavidez 2

Sacramento, California, United States Win

Robert Whittaker Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann 2

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Win

Josh Neer Decision (unanimous) UFC 157

Anaheim, California, United States Loss

Nick Ring Decision (unanimous) UFC 149

Calgary, Alberta, Canada Loss

Costas Philippou Decision (unanimous) UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann

Sydney, Australia Win

Yang Dongi Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Win

Ryan Jensen Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC 121

Anaheim, California, United States Win

Kris McCray Submission (rear-naked choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Dayle Jarvis TKO (punches) Xtreme Combat 4

Richfield, Utah, United States Win

Isidro Gonzalez Decision (unanimous) Throwdown Showdown 2

Orem, Utah, United States Win

Hank Weiss Decision (unanimous) Jeremy Horn's Elite Fight Night 2

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Chad Maheau TKO (punches) Kraze in the Cage: Chapter 7, Vol. 2

Rock Springs, Wyoming, United States Win

Clint Riser TKO (submission to punches) Kraze in the Cage: Chapter 7, Vol. 1

Rock Springs, Wyoming, United States Loss

Jeremy Horn Decision (unanimous) UCE Round 28: Worlds Collide

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Justin Ellison TKO (submission to punches) Cage FC 3

Ogden, Utah, United States Win

DaMarques Johnson Submission (guillotine choke) UCE Round 26: Finals

St. George, Utah, United States Win

Ben Fuimaono Submission (arm-triangle choke) UCE Round 26: Episode 9

Sandy, Utah, United States Win

Jarrett Kelton TKO (punches) UCE Round 26: Episode 6

Ogden, Utah, United States Win

Nick Rossborough Decision (unanimous) UCE Round 26: Episode 3

Sandy, Utah, United States Win

Ry Stone Submission (rear naked choke) Bush Cree Promotions 2

Grand Junction, Colorado, United States Win

Brad Tavares Technical submission (rear-naked choke)

Win

James Hammortree Submission (standing guillotine choke)

Loss

Nick Ring Decision (majority)

Win

Seth Baczynski Decision (unanimous)