A pair of welterweight veterans kicked off the action at Saturday’s UFC 307 in Salt Lake City, Utah as TUF winner Court McGee took on Tim Means.
McGee had lost three straight coming into the fight, and at 39, retirement was no doubt on the horizon. “The Dirty Bird” Means was already 40, and 1-4 in his last five, almost certainly in the same boat.
An early takedown attempt and clinch battle along the fence resulted in nothing more than a return to center in the card’s curtain-jerker. About 90 seconds in, McGee ripped off a combination that had Means covering up. A few more blows from McGee and he closed the distance, earning a takedown. From there, he threatened to take the back, getting one hook in but struggling to find space with the pair right up against the cage. McGee would finally position Means a bit off the fence, then went hunting for a rear-naked choke. When McGee finally did get that second hook in, he almost fell over the top, but managed to hang on and get the back with Means sitting against him.
The rear-naked choke went in place moments later, and Means suddenly tapped! Means could be seen touching his neck afterwards, but appeared to be okay.
“I feel so much better with my neck working. It’s so much easier to compete and train,” McGee, who recently had his neck repaired, said following the win, speaking with Joe Rogan.
Official Result: Court McGee def. Tim Means by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 3:19
