Gan McGee
Encyclopedia
Gan McGee is an American
mixed martial artist
who is best remembered for his appearances in the Ultimate Fighting Championship
. He holds notable wins over Pedro Rizzo
and Paul Buentello
against 6 ft. 8 in. Tim Sylvia
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
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, 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
-based PRIDE MMA
organization. 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 in a steel cage again—not until I regain my warrior's mentality."
McGee now claims that he has regained his long lost passion and will be embarking upon a comeback that he hopes will culminate with the heavyweight world title. His first comeback fight will be on XFC
's "Salute to Our Armed Forces V" fight card on September 13, 2008 at the St. Pete Times Forum
in Tampa
, Florida
. "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 third round.
|Loss
| 13-5
|
Anthony Ruiz
|KO (Punches)
|Pure Combat 9
|
| 3
| 1:14
|
|
|-
|Win
|13-4
| Johnathan Ivey
|TKO (Punches)
|XFC#XFC 5: Return of the Giant
|
| 2
| 0:59
|
|
|-
|Loss
|12-4
|
Semmy Schilt
|Submission (Armbar)
|PRIDE Total Elimination 2004
|
| 1
| 5:02
|
|-
|Loss
|12-3
| Heath Herring
|Decision (Split)
|PRIDE 27
|
| 3
| 5:00
|
|
|-
|Loss
|12-2
| Tim Sylvia
|KO (Punches)
|UFC 44
|
| 1
| 1:54
|
|For UFC Heavyweight Championship. Tim Sylvia later tested positive for steroids after the fight.
|-
|Win
|12-1
|
Alexandre Dantas
|TKO (Strikes)
|UFC 41
|
| 1
| 4:49
|
|
|-
|Win
|11-1
| Pedro Rizzo
|TKO (Corner Stoppage)
|UFC 39
|
| 1
| 5:00
|
|
|-
|Win
|10-1
| Ron Faircloth
|Submission (Strikes)
|WEC 2
|
| 1
| 0:12
|
|
|-
|Win
|9-1
| Seth Petruzelli
|Submission (Heel Hook)
|WEC 1
|
| 1
| 1:25
|
|
|-
|Win
|8-1
| Rocky Batastini
|TKO (Cut)
|IFC WC 12 – Warriors Challenge 12
|
| 1
| 3:12
|
|
|-
|Loss
|7-1
| Josh Barnett
|TKO (Strikes)
|UFC 28
|
| 2
| 4:34
|
|
|-
|Win
|7-0
| Brad Gabriel
|TKO
|IFC – Battleground 2
|
| 1
|
|
|
|-
|Win
|6-0
| Paul Buentello
|Submission (Strikes)
|IFC WC 7 – Warriors Challenge 7
|
| 1
| 2:44
|
|
|-
|Win
|5-0
| Tim Lajcik
|Submission (Strikes)
|IFC WC 7 – Warriors Challenge 7
|
| 1
| 4:38
|
|
|-
|Win
|4-0
| Jason Jones
|Submission (Strikes)
|IFC WC 7 – Warriors Challenge 7
|
| 1
| 6:48
|
|
|-
|Win
|3-0
| Aaron Brink
|Submission (Strikes)
|CFF – The Cobra Challenge 1999
|
| 1
| 3:09
|
|
|-
|Win
|2-0
| Ricky Herro
|N/A
|IFC WC 5 – Warriors Challenge 5
|
|N/A
|
|
|
|-
|Win
|1-0
| Sam Adkins
|TKO
|BRI 4 – Bas Rutten Invitational 4
|
| 1
| 4:58
|
|
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
who is best remembered for his appearances in the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
. He holds notable wins over Pedro Rizzo
Pedro Rizzo
Pedro Augusto Rizzo is an Brazilian mixed martial artist and Muay Thai fighter. He has a professional MMA record of 19–9–0 as of July 17, 2010. He holds notable victories over former UFC Champions Mark Coleman, Dan Severn, Josh Barnett, Andrei Arlovski, Ricco Rodriguez and Ken Shamrock.-Mixed...
and Paul Buentello
Paul Buentello
|-| Loss|align=center| 29–14| Cole Konrad| Decision | Bellator 48| |align=center| 3|align=center| 5:00|Uncasville, Connecticut, United States| Non-title bout.|-| Win|align=center| 29–13| Kerry Schall| Decision...
Career
On September 26, 2003 McGee earned a shot at the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 44: UndisputedUFC 44
UFC 44: Undisputed was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 26, 2003, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada...
against 6 ft. 8 in. Tim Sylvia
Tim Sylvia
Timothy Deane Sylvia is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter, professional wrestler, and former Ultimate Fighting Championship Heavyweight Champion. He trains as a member of the Miletich Fighting Systems camp and is part of their MFSE group...
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
Tim Sylvia
Timothy Deane Sylvia is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter, professional wrestler, and former Ultimate Fighting Championship Heavyweight Champion. He trains as a member of the Miletich Fighting Systems camp and is part of their MFSE group...
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, 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
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
-based PRIDE MMA
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
organization. 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 in a steel cage again—not until I regain my warrior's mentality."
McGee now claims that he has regained his long lost passion and will be embarking upon a comeback that he hopes will culminate with the heavyweight world title. His first comeback fight will be on XFC
XFC
Xtreme Fighting Championships is a United States mixed martial arts organization that has produced stadium fight cards in Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee, runs MMA-themed gyms...
's "Salute to Our Armed Forces V" fight card on September 13, 2008 at the St. Pete Times Forum
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....
in Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. "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 third round.
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Loss
| 13-5
|
Anthony Ruiz|KO (Punches)
|Pure Combat 9
|
| 3
| 1:14
|
|
|-
|Win
|13-4
|
Johnathan IveyJohnathan Ivey
Johnathan Ivey is an American Heavyweight mixed martial artist. He has fought notable fighters such as Gan McGee, Jeremy Horn, Ben Rothwell, Dan Severn, Ricco Rodriguez and Ken Shamrock.-Mixed martial arts career:...
|TKO (Punches)
|XFC#XFC 5: Return of the Giant
|
| 2
| 0:59
|
|
|-
|Loss
|12-4
|
Semmy SchiltSemmy Schilt
Semmy Schilt , also known as Sem Schilt, is a Dutch Ashihara karateka, kickboxer, mixed martial artist and four time K-1 World GP champion. He is the first and only fighter in K-1 history to win the championship three times in a row, and also shares the record with Ernesto Hoost for most GPs won,...
|Submission (Armbar)
|PRIDE Total Elimination 2004
PRIDE Total Elimination 2004
Pride Total Elimination 2004 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. This event consisted of the first round of the 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix...
|
| 1
| 5:02
|
|-
|Loss
|12-3
|
Heath HerringHeath Herring
Heath Herring is an inactive American Heavyweight professional mixed martial artist who attained popularity fighting for PRIDE FC in Japan and most recently fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
|Decision (Split)
|PRIDE 27
PRIDE 27
PRIDE 27: Inferno was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. The event took place at the Osaka Castle Hall on February 1st, 2004.- Dan Bobish vs. Igor Vovchanchyn:...
|
| 3
| 5:00
|
|
|-
|Loss
|12-2
|
Tim SylviaTim Sylvia
Timothy Deane Sylvia is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter, professional wrestler, and former Ultimate Fighting Championship Heavyweight Champion. He trains as a member of the Miletich Fighting Systems camp and is part of their MFSE group...
|KO (Punches)
|UFC 44
UFC 44
UFC 44: Undisputed was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 26, 2003, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada...
|
| 1
| 1:54
|
|For UFC Heavyweight Championship. Tim Sylvia later tested positive for steroids after the fight.
|-
|Win
|12-1
|
Alexandre DantasAlexandre Dantas
Alexandre "Cafe" Dantas is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He competes in the Heavyweight division. He lost his last fight at UFC 41 against Gan McGee on February 28, 2003...
|TKO (Strikes)
|UFC 41
UFC 41
- External links:* * * *...
|
| 1
| 4:49
|
|
|-
|Win
|11-1
|
Pedro RizzoPedro Rizzo
Pedro Augusto Rizzo is an Brazilian mixed martial artist and Muay Thai fighter. He has a professional MMA record of 19–9–0 as of July 17, 2010. He holds notable victories over former UFC Champions Mark Coleman, Dan Severn, Josh Barnett, Andrei Arlovski, Ricco Rodriguez and Ken Shamrock.-Mixed...
|TKO (Corner Stoppage)
|UFC 39
UFC 39
UFC 39: The Warriors Return was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 27, 2002, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut...
|
| 1
| 5:00
|
|
|-
|Win
|10-1
|
Ron FairclothRon Faircloth
Ron Faircloth is an American mixed mrtial artist who is known for his fight in the UFC with Alessio Sakara that ended in a No Contest. He competes in the Light Heavyweight division. He has a notable victory over former UFC fighter Wilson Gouveia...
|Submission (Strikes)
|WEC 2
|
| 1
| 0:12
|
|
|-
|Win
|9-1
|
Seth PetruzelliSeth Petruzelli
Seth Petruzelli is an American mixed martial artist, former kickboxer and entrepreneur. He is infamously known as the first man to defeat Kimbo Slice in mixed martial arts competition, knocking him out in 14 seconds. Seth went to school at the University of Central Florida to study Psychology...
|Submission (Heel Hook)
|WEC 1
WEC 1
WEC 1: Princes of Pain was a mixed martial arts event held on June 30, 2001 at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California. WEC 1s main event was a fight between Dan Severn and Travis Fulton.- Results :...
|
| 1
| 1:25
|
|
|-
|Win
|8-1
|
Rocky Batastini|TKO (Cut)
|IFC WC 12 – Warriors Challenge 12
|
| 1
| 3:12
|
|
|-
|Loss
|7-1
|
Josh BarnettJosh Barnett
Joshua Lawrence Barnett is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who currently fights in the heavyweight division of Strikeforce. Barnett has been an accomplished fighter in mixed martial arts, winning the UFC Heavyweight Championship and the King of Pancrase Openweight...
|TKO (Strikes)
|UFC 28
UFC 28
UFC 28: High Stakes was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on November 17, 2000 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey.-History:...
|
| 2
| 4:34
|
|
|-
|Win
|7-0
|
Brad Gabriel|TKO
|IFC – Battleground 2
|
| 1
|
|
|
|-
|Win
|6-0
|
Paul BuentelloPaul Buentello
|-| Loss|align=center| 29–14| Cole Konrad| Decision | Bellator 48| |align=center| 3|align=center| 5:00|Uncasville, Connecticut, United States| Non-title bout.|-| Win|align=center| 29–13| Kerry Schall| Decision...
|Submission (Strikes)
|IFC WC 7 – Warriors Challenge 7
|
| 1
| 2:44
|
|
|-
|Win
|5-0
|
Tim LajcikTim Lajcik
Tim "The Bohemian" Lajcik is a retired American mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division. He lost his last fight at WFA 2 - Level 2 against Kimo Leopoldo on July 5, 2002.-Mixed martial arts record:|Loss...
|Submission (Strikes)
|IFC WC 7 – Warriors Challenge 7
|
| 1
| 4:38
|
|
|-
|Win
|4-0
|
Jason JonesJason Jones (fighter)
Jason Jones is a Dutch professional mixed martial arts fighter. He currently fights for United Glory.-MMA career:Jones made his professional MMA debut in May 2004 against Matt Hershberger, where he won by guillotine choke in just 21 seconds...
|Submission (Strikes)
|IFC WC 7 – Warriors Challenge 7
|
| 1
| 6:48
|
|
|-
|Win
|3-0
|
Aaron Brink|Submission (Strikes)
|CFF – The Cobra Challenge 1999
|
| 1
| 3:09
|
|
|-
|Win
|2-0
|
Ricky Herro|N/A
|IFC WC 5 – Warriors Challenge 5
|
|N/A
|
|
|
|-
|Win
|1-0
|
Sam Adkins|TKO
|BRI 4 – Bas Rutten Invitational 4
|
| 1
| 4:58
|
|