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McGee overrun with emotion after claiming TUF 11 title

Journey back from depths hits new peak for Court McGee with second-round submission of Kris McCray

UFC_TUF 11 McGee-McCray

Justin M. Bowen

Court McGee smiles as he is announced the winner after submitting Kris McCray during their middleweight bout during The Ultimate Fighter Season 11 Finale on Saturday at the Pearl inside the Palms.

Court McGee lost just about everyone and everything when drug and alcohol addictions consumed his life for a stretch that ended more than four years ago.

His journey back from those depths found a new peak Saturday night in the "Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale," as his second-round submission of Kris McCray earned him a six-figure, multi-fight UFC contract.

He grew emotional and shed tears during his post-fight interview in the cage with Kenny Florian, stating that his fight was dedicated to anyone else who is struggling in any way in life.

"When I broke up like that, that's seven years in one minute," he said. "Coming from where I came from to where I'm at today, man, you'd have been the same way.

"I feel like I earned it. I feel like I earned my spot."

Going against a fighter who never had seen one of his bouts go to a decision, McGee knew he had to be aggressive, and he combined that with some smart on-the-fly tactics early on.

After trading blows with McCray and taking him to the mat a couple of times in the first round, the turning point came in the second stanza, when he picked McCray up, set him horizontal in his arms and slammed him with force.

From there, he maneuvered into position for a rear-naked choke, which he executed with just more than a minute remaining in the round, setting the crowd of nearly 3,000 into a frenzy.

"He had great takedowns; he controlled the match well," McCray said. "He was a bit cleaner of a fighter than I was. He definitely used his strengths to my weaknesses. I thought we were about even, and he proved me wrong."

McGee said his game plan coming in consisted of out-classing McCray with his striking abilities, but he found it in his best interests to change directions.

Luckily for McGee, he made the same decision with his life early in 2006 and, in turn, the biggest night of his life was capped off by celebrating with those who helped him along the way down the right path.

Standing silent in the back of a group of more than 20 family members and friends rejoicing with Court was his father, Ron.

Ron is somber when he admits that at a point in time — for a little while, at least — he gave up on his son.

"I don't know if his mother did, but I know I did for a while, and that was pretty hard, being his dad and giving up on him," Ron McGee said. "It was just something I had a hard time dealing with after all the time I'd spent supporting him, knowing that he had just gone bad and I couldn't take it any more."

Ron was one of the toughest people for Court to win back, but Court did so by showing a commitment to rehab after kicking his habits the first time. Ron said his renewed faith in his son grew even stronger after a two-week relapse, which took him from one wild night in Las Vegas to Iowa, of all places.

"I thought he was gonna make it then, and he has," Ron said. "He's always been a good kid, even from the time he was little. He was just stressful there for a couple of years."

Now Ron, who is retired, said he looks forward to helping his son manage his career moving forward.

He started Friday, when he passed down some knowledge to Court about being responsible with his money after his son picked up a tab for several family members out for a meal on the Strip.

He's convinced Court will maintain the humble roots he's established in Orem, Utah, as he's discussed buying a duplex for his growing family, with his second son on the way.

After Saturday night, he certainly has the money to do so, earning between $12,000 and $16,000 for his win and a $25,000 bonus for Submission of the Night.

"This is great," Ron said with pride, capturing as much of the celebration as he possibly could with his camera. "Especially from where he was four years ago."

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