Court McGee's final walk to the Octagon did not bring the storybook finish he wanted, but it closed a career defined by persistence.

Eric Nolan stopped McGee by TKO at 3:26 of the third round in the opening bout of UFC 332 on Saturday at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. McGee, who had already said the fight would be his last, removed his gloves after the loss and confirmed his retirement in front of his home-state crowd.

Nolan broke through late

McGee opened the welterweight fight with the pressure, clinch work and wrestling that have been central to his game throughout his career. Nolan stayed composed at range and landed the more damaging strikes, including an elbow at the end of the first round that badly hurt McGee.

McGee recovered and continued pressing in the second, but Nolan repeatedly defended the takedown attempts and found a home for his right hand. The pace intensified in the final round. Nolan hurt McGee during an extended exchange, followed him as he tried to survive, and ended the fight with another right hand that sent the veteran to the canvas.

The UFC's official result lists the finish as a third-round TKO at 3:26. The victory was Nolan's first in the UFC.

McGee leaves the gloves behind

McGee's farewell centered on the journey that brought him from addiction and a near-fatal overdose to a long career at the highest level of mixed martial arts.

"Twenty years I got sober, and 16 of those I've been fighting the best guys in the world," McGee said after the fight, according to MMA Fighting. He thanked the crowd, praised Nolan and told fans not to let anyone say they could not achieve their dreams.

The scene was fitting for a fighter whose public identity has long extended beyond wins and losses. McGee has spoken openly about recovery throughout his career and used his platform to encourage people dealing with addiction.

A career built on endurance

McGee won Season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2010 and remained on the UFC roster for more than 16 years. His 25 UFC appearances included victories over Robert Whittaker, Josh Neer, Dominique Steele, Alex Garcia, Ramiz Brahimaj and Tim Means.

He also shared the Octagon with a long list of elite welterweights and middleweights, including Carlos Condit, Matt Brown, Michael Chiesa, Sean Brady and Sean Strickland. McGee was rarely the flashiest fighter on a card, but his conditioning, pressure and willingness to grind through difficult rounds made him one of the promotion's most durable veterans.

His final victory came in the same building two years earlier, when he submitted Tim Means at UFC 307. Saturday's result left McGee with a 22-15 professional record and an 11-14 UFC mark.

A respectful end despite the result

Nolan had the difficult assignment of facing a retiring Utah favorite. The crowd's frustration after the stoppage did not change his response: he showed respect for McGee and acknowledged the career he had just helped bring to a close.

There was no final win for McGee, but his sendoff reflected the larger meaning of his career. He reached the UFC, won The Ultimate Fighter, competed there 25 times and left on his own terms after fighting close to home. The last result belongs to Nolan; the final message belonged to McGee.