Court McGee takes inspiration in Michael Bisping’s late-career title win: ‘I have it in me’

Court McGee takes inspiration in Michael Bisping’s late-career title win: ‘I have it in me’

LAS VEGAS – Court McGee thinks he’s far from done.

The 37-year-old doesn’t plan on stopping his MMA career any time soon and said he hopes to continue to rack up important wins and be among the best fighters in the world.

McGee (21-10 MMA, 10-9 UFC) is on a two-fight winning streak after beating Ramiz Brahimaj in a unanimous decision at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 32. The pair of victories snapped a three-fight skid and have him hungry for more.

“I’m not over the hill. I feel like I’m in my prime,” McGee told reporters at the UFC on ESPN 32 pos-fight news conference. “Like Mike Bisping – (he was) 36, 37 years old and the dude came back and he was on fire. Everybody counted him out. I didn’t. I always loved him because he brought the fight every time and I looked up to him. I always look at that and think, ‘I have it in me.’ I feel it in the gym, I feel it with training partners, I feel it with teammates and I feel it when I’m fighting.

“I had six controversial decision losses. I’ve walked in the back a couple of times where 15 people said, ‘I thought you had that. I thought you had that.’ It’s too close. You leave it in the hands of the judges, and that can happen. And it happens all the time. It’s upsetting, but I don’t take it to heart. I say, ‘OK, what do I need to do to get better? What do I need to do to improve?’ And if the improvement is just a little bit, then I make those small improvements, those sacrifices. I do what I need to do.”

With an early start to 2022, McGee hopes to return again this year. In three of the past four years, he fought just once a year. But he’s hoping to be more active in 2022. McGee welcomes any and all challengers.

“I do want another one this year,” McGee said. “I’m excited to finish out the wrestling season. This is my first year officially as a high school wrestling coach. I’m the assistant of the all-girls team. … I haven’t thought about (who’s next). I’m just on to the next one. Every time I get the call, I answer the call. It don’t matter if it’s the toughest guy that nobody wants to fight, the undefeated newcomer or the old, gritty veteran. It’s ‘Bring it on,’ and I find a way to win.”