McGee's journey into and out of drug addiction is well known by this point, but his path to success in MMA isn't as much. It was a years-long grind of small competitions to get to the big one.
Before he ever appeared on "The Ultimate Fighter 11" and put together an impressive come-from-behind victory in the tournament finale, the reality-show champion could be seen in amateur and professional boxing matches, jiu-jitsu tournaments and open wrestling tournaments – anything he could find, basically, to get better at fighting.
Around were guys such as Jeremy Horn, who earned his combat education in much the same way, fighting as often as he could around the country. There was Josh Burkman, a standout wrestler and fighter on the local circuit. Then there was McGee, who was still putting it all together but loving every moment of the process.
"Man, fighting has been on my mind since I was 5 years old," he told MMAjunkie.com Radio (
MMAjunkie.com Radio | MMAjunkie.com).
McGee worked as a plumber by day and fantasized about getting into the gym at night. He wrestled high schoolers and sparred amateur boxers who showed up to train. He followed "The Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding" for his strength regimen. He smoked cigarettes.
And he fought – a lot. He estimates he took about 4,000 hours' worth of beatings. But it made him a better fighter. He quit smoking when he fought Horn in December 2007, and, well, you know about the drugs.
McGee (13-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) now enjoys a three-fight win streak in the UFC after winning "TUF 11." Constantinos Philippou (9-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) is his next opponent, and the two middleweights meet on the main card of UFC on FX 2, which takes place March 2 at Sydney's Allphones Arena and airs live on FX. A seven-bout preliminary-card airs on FUEL TV.
This past week, McGee said he put in 20 hours at the gym. But the training now is nothing like what it used to be. And instead of training with whomever shows up, he has a team. John Hackleman and former "TUF 11" coach Chuck Liddell are in his Rolodex.
Prior to his appearance on the reality-show finale, his coach had left the gym for five weeks. He couldn't advertise the fact that he was on the finale, being that he was under a non-disclosure agreement with Spike TV, and so he couldn't exactly ask for help the obvious way. Thankfully, Liddell came to the rescue.
"[Liddell] dropped me into the camp and allowed me to train under John while he was getting ready for his fight," McGee said. "He was fighting Rich Franklin the week before. I called him because at the time I didn't have a coach. I asked him, 'What do you think about John training me?' He said 'hold on' and hung up the phone. (Then) he called me back and said, 'I booked you a flight. You're leaving tomorrow from Salt Lake (City). Bring your gear. I'll have somebody pick you up.'"
McGee won't ever be a Division I All-American, but if he continues on his current path, he could be a UFC champion.
"I know every single fight is really important, but no matter what, I'll always be the season 11 'Ultimate Fighter' champion, and that's a cool thing." he said. "I only won one tournament in high school in wrestling.
"I was getting ready for this. I didn't have the coaches behind me that I thought I needed, and I didn't know, so I started preparing by myself. But I got to the point where I was like, 'Man, I can't be (training like this).'"
