Gan McGee
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Gan McGee (born November 20, 1976) is an American
mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...
who has competed for the UFC,
PRIDE Pride is a human Emotion, secondary emotion characterized by a sense of satisfaction with one's Identity (philosophy), identity, performance, or accomplishments. It is often considered the opposite of shame or of humility and, depending on conte ...
, WEC and the XFC.


Background

McGee was born in
Bismarck, North Dakota Bismarck (; from 1872 to 1873: Edwinton) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat, seat of Burleigh County, North Dakota, Burleigh County. It is the state's List of cities i ...
to Marguerite McGee (nee Ohde) and Curtis Warren McGee. McGee dominated on the
wrestling Wrestling is a martial art, combat sport, and form of entertainment that involves grappling with an opponent and striving to obtain a position of advantage through different throws or techniques, within a given ruleset. Wrestling involves di ...
team at
Ukiah High School Ukiah High School (also referred to as UHS or "Ukiahi") is the oldest public high school in Ukiah, California, Ukiah, California, the county seat, seat of Mendocino County, California, Mendocino County. Established in 1893, it is the largest scho ...
and then continued his career at the
University of Iowa The University of Iowa (U of I, UIowa, or Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized int ...
and
California Polytechnic State University California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo or Cal Poly) is a public university in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States, - Cites the location of the university and shows that the university ...
.


Career

McGee debuted with the UFC at UFC 28 on November 17, 2000. He faced fellow debutant Josh Barnett. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round. McGee returned to the UFC in 2002 after a short stint in WEC where he won two fights. His return fight was against Pedro Rizzo at UFC 39 on September 27, 2002. He won via TKO after Rizzo was unable to continue past the first round. His next fight was against Alexandre Dantas at UFC 41 on February 28, 2003. He won via TKO in the first round. On September 26, 2003, McGee earned a shot at the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 44: Undisputed against 6 ft. 8 in.
Tim Sylvia Timothy Deane Sylvia (born March 5, 1976) is an American retired mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, professional wrestler, and a former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion. He has competed as a Super Heavyweight and Heavyweight. While he is best kn ...
in a match that was dubbed "The Battle of the Giants." McGee lost this fight via TKO in the first round. After the fight,
Tim Sylvia Timothy Deane Sylvia (born March 5, 1976) is an American retired mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, professional wrestler, and a former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion. He has competed as a Super Heavyweight and Heavyweight. While he is best kn ...
tested positive for steroids during a mandatory post-fight drug test and was stripped of his title. Even though his opponent was caught using performance-enhancing drugs, the UFC denied McGee a rematch for the championship. As a result, McGee lost his passion for fighting. "Tim Sylvia is a great fighter and the video tape doesn't lie, he beat the hell out of me," said McGee from his San Luis Obispo training camp. "Did the steroids make a difference? Different people have different theories, I guess. But for me, what hurt the most was sacrificing absolutely everything I had to finally achieve my dream of becoming a world champion, and then falling short. And when it became clear that UFC wasn't going to consider me for a second title shot, my entire world collapsed. I felt like a part of me had just died. It was beyond devastating." Gan McGee then left UFC and joined the
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
-based
PRIDE Pride is a human Emotion, secondary emotion characterized by a sense of satisfaction with one's Identity (philosophy), identity, performance, or accomplishments. It is often considered the opposite of shame or of humility and, depending on conte ...
MMA organization. He lost his two fights with the organization via decision and
armbar An armlock in grappling is a single or double joint lock that hyperextends, hyperflexes or hyperrotates the elbow joint or shoulder joint. An armpit lock is very useful; it will immobilize an opponent and pin them on the ground. An armlock t ...
. But, by his own admission, his heart was no longer in the fight game: "Culturally and personally, being in Japan was an amazing experience," McGee stated. "I mean, from the ceilings to the shower fixtures, everything is so small over there—I felt a little like Godzilla trampling the villagers. But professionally, I never really recovered from the Sylvia fight. Mentally, I lost that edge—that killer instinct. Call it the 'Eye of the Tiger' or whatever you want; I was just going through the motions, unfocused and uncaring. And after losing my second fight in the Orient, I swore to myself that I would never step foot (sic) in a steel cage again—not until I regain my warrior's mentality." In 2008, McGee now claimed that he regained his long lost passion and embarked on a comeback that he hopes will culminate with the heavyweight world title. His first comeback fight was at Xtreme Fighting Championships#XFC 5: Return of the Giant on September 13, 2008, at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. He won via second-round
knockout A knockout (abbreviated to KO or K.O.) is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, karate, some forms of taekwondo and other sports involving striking, ...
. He said "It took years of introspection and self-discovery, but I finally realized that God made me a giant and blessed me with this mind-blowing power for a reason: to be the most destructive heavyweight champion that's ever walked on planet Earth," McGee stated. "Writers write, teachers teach -- and giants destroy. For so many years I tried to run away from my destiny -- to be something I'm not -- but that part of my life has come to a screeching halt. My intensity level is off the charts right now; if I've gotta tear down buildings, smash open skulls or annihilate whole cities to get another title shot, then that's what I'll do. This time around, 'The Giant' will stand tall." He lost his last fight at Pure Combat 9 via KO (Punches) in the third round.


Championships and Accomplishments

*International Fighting Championship **IFC Warriors Challenge 7 Tournament Winner


Mixed martial arts record

, - , Loss , align=center, 13–5 ,
Anthony Ruiz Anthony Ruiz (born November 3, 1977) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Light Heavyweight and Middleweight divisions of MMA. A professional since 2003, he has competed for Bellator MMA, Strikeforce (mixed m ...
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Visalia, California Visalia ( ) is a city in the agricultural San Joaquin Valley of California. The population was 141,384 as per the 2020 census. Visalia is the fifth-most populous city in the San Joaquin Valley, the 38th most populous in California, and 183 ...
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Tampa, Florida Tampa ( ) is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. Tampa's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and t ...
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Semmy Schilt Sem "Semmy" Schilt (; born 27 October 1973) is a Dutch actor and former kickboxer, karateka and mixed martial artist. Schilt holds the distinction of being the only kickboxer to have won 5 major heavyweight tournaments, being a four-time List of ...
, Submission (armbar) , PRIDE Total Elimination 2004 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 5:02 , Saitama, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 12–3 , Heath Herring , Decision (split) , PRIDE 27 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Osaka is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the List of cities in Japan, third-most populous city in J ...
, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 12–2 ,
Tim Sylvia Timothy Deane Sylvia (born March 5, 1976) is an American retired mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, professional wrestler, and a former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion. He has competed as a Super Heavyweight and Heavyweight. While he is best kn ...
, TKO (punches) , UFC 44 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:54 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
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Atlantic City, New Jersey Atlantic City, sometimes referred to by its initials A.C., is a Jersey Shore seaside resort city (New Jersey), city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Atlantic City comprises the second half of ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 11–1 , Pedro Rizzo , TKO (corner stoppage) , UFC 39 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Uncasville, Connecticut Uncasville is a village in the town of Montville, Connecticut, United States. It is located in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River where it flows into the Thames River. The name is now applied more generally to all of the ...
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Atlantic City, New Jersey Atlantic City, sometimes referred to by its initials A.C., is a Jersey Shore seaside resort city (New Jersey), city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Atlantic City comprises the second half of ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 7–0 , Brad Gabriel , TKO (punches) , IFC: Battleground 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, N/A ,
Atlantic City, New Jersey Atlantic City, sometimes referred to by its initials A.C., is a Jersey Shore seaside resort city (New Jersey), city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Atlantic City comprises the second half of ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6–0 , Paul Buentello , TKO (submission to punches) , IFC WC 7: Warriors Challenge 7 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:44 ,
Fresno, California Fresno (; ) is a city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County, California, Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. It covers a ...
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Tim Lajcik Timothy Matthew Lajcik (; born June 21, 1965) is a retired American mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist, stuntman, actor and writer. Lajcik competed in the Heavyweight (MMA), heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and t ...
, TKO (submission to strikes) , IFC WC 7: Warriors Challenge 7 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:38 ,
Fresno, California Fresno (; ) is a city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County, California, Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. It covers a ...
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Fresno, California Fresno (; ) is a city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County, California, Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. It covers a ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 3–0 , Aaron Brink , TKO (submission to punches) , CFF: The Cobra Challenge 1999 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:09 , Anza, California, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Ricky Herro , align=center, N/A , IFC WC 5: Warriors Challenge 5 , , align=center, N/A , align=center, N/A ,
Fresno, California Fresno (; ) is a city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County, California, Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. It covers a ...
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Littleton, Colorado Littleton is a home rule municipality city located in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties, Colorado, United States. Littleton is the county seat of Arapahoe County and is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Stati ...
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See also

*
List of male mixed martial artists This is a list of notable professional male mixed martial arts fighters in alphabetical order. __NOTOC__ A * Tank Abbott - ( UFC, Pride, Strikeforce) * Hamdy Abdelwahab - ( UFC) * Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov - ( ACB) * Shamil Abdurakhimov - ...


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:McGee, Gan 1976 births American male mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists from North Dakota Heavyweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing collegiate wrestling Living people Sportspeople from Bismarck, North Dakota Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters