OREM — Even dying didn't convince Court McGee to give up drugs and alcohol.
"I was in rehab for 32 days, and I relapsed three days out," said McGee, a Layton High graduate who will be fighting a different battle Saturday night in Las Vegas. If he wins the final fight of The Ultimate Fighter Season 11 against Kris McCray, he will get a contract with the UFC and the opportunity to fight the world's best mixed martial artists.
McGee isn't worried about tonight's showdown, because he's fought — and won — a much tougher battle.
He didn't decide to enter a rehabilitation facility until an acquaintance found him without a pulse in the bathroom of a friend's trailer. An ambulance just happened to be on what turned out to be a false alarm a couple of doors away, and paramedics revived McGee.
His parents, from whom he was estranged, helped get him into rehab, where he began to turn his life around.
After relapsing three days out of rehab, he was clean for 51/2 months. Things were going so well, he decided he could have a couple of beers.
"It was 51/2 months later, I was in Las Vegas drinking," he said at The Academy training center in Orem, where he's trained for the last several years. "Four days later, I woke up in Iowa with no pants. That was April 16, 2006. I haven't had a drop since."
After he regained control of his life, he reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Chelsea. They married and had a son, Isaac. They were barely making ends meet as he worked as a plumber, taught classes at the gym and tried to find time to train in the sport that is his passion.
It was working as a plumber that earned him his nickname in the cage — The Crusher.
"I was a pipe fitter, and I was always breaking the fittings," he said. "I've always been strong."
But he had to choose between his job and his dream when he couldn't get time off work to train and compete.
Chelsea said she never worried, in part because of McGee's talent and work ethic, but also because both her parents and his parents supported them.
"I always just tried to be supportive," said Chelsea, who is pregnant with their second son. "There were days that I thought, 'Maybe we should fight on the side and work full time.' But we were happy."
And that, said McGee, is why he was able to take the risk of auditioning for the reality show that has enhanced and improved his fighting and might change their lives.
"I went in really open-minded," he said.
While he wanted the opportunity, he vowed to be true to himself.
"It wasn't make or break for me," said McGee. "We were happy as a family. I made sure I was okay with both scenarios."
His wife said she thought he'd earn the spot, despite being turned away the first time.
"I was excited," said Chelsea. "I had a really good feeling about it."
McGee was the third-to-last fighter chosen for Chuck Liddell's team and wasn't expected to make it past the semifinals.
He said the opportunities he's experienced and friendships he's forged will help his career and enhance his life.
He is, every moment, just living his dream.
While the sport came naturally to the athletic McGee, his ability to finish a fight was harder to hone.
"It was really hard for me for a while," he said. "I had a hard time finishing someone. Once, I fought someone I knew was getting married, and I stopped elbowing him because I didn't want to cut his face."
Luckily, his compassion for his competitors is something he's been able to hang onto outside the cage. Inside the cage, however, he understands this sport is now his family's livelihood. He also sees what his opponent has to gain by beating him.
"He signed up to hurt me, and likewise, I signed up to hurt him," he said. "I don't look too far forward. I focus on today. I worry about what I'm going to do in practice tonight."
His family and friends loaded up a bus full of people, and The Academy owners printed up shirts in support of McGee. There is also a party at The Academy, 1640 S. State, Orem, at 7 p.m. Saturday that is free to the public. They will watch the finale fight, which airs at 9 p.m. on Spike TV.
McGee said no matter what happens, he's a happy man.
"For me, it's recovery first, family second and third is fighting," he said. "My job today is to be where I'm of maximum use to others. ... My life is in order today. I'm having fun, and I'm determined to take this as far as I can."
e-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com