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The Faces of UFC 39: Gan McGee
By Loretta Hunt

This installment of our Faces of UFC 39 series focuses today on heavyweight Gan McGee, deemed the biggest underdog for Friday night's showdown with heavily experienced Pedro Rizzo.

UFC 28: Gan McGee vs. Josh Barnett Calm and reserved, much like his mentor Chuck "the Iceman" Liddell, Gan McGee made his Octagon debut at UFC 28, but hasn't walked the fame fighter's ramp since. With almost two more years of training under his belt and a few more wins to reflect this, McGee has been called up again to take the challenge. A high school and college wrestler, 6'10" McGee hopes his solid base in the art of the takedown will be enough to derail deadly striker Pedro Rizzo. The Californian discusses his breakdown of the fight, how he's been equipping himself for battle, and his thoughts on just how big weight will be a factor on Friday.

FCF:   The last time UFC fans had a chance to see you in action was at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, where you took on another first-timer, Josh Barnett. What have you been doing since UFC 28, and how did you make your way back to the Octagon?
GM:     After the UFC, I went back to fighting a few smaller shows. Actually, my weight increased -- I was coming in around 320 for a while and the UFC was using heavyweights that were lighter. I started dieting and training, trying to get my weight down. It's getting low now and I got the call -- so I'm doing it [the UFC] again.

FCF:   What smaller shows were you competing in?
GM:     I fought for the WEC a couple of times. Maybe another fight. I can't remember.

FCF:   When you fought Barnett, what weight were you at?
GM:     I was around 300 [pounds].

FCF:   From 300 pounds you are working down to the 265-pound weight class limit, where opponent Pedro Rizzo will be waiting for you. Rizzo is extremely experienced, having fought for the show ten times since UFC Brazil in October 1998. What are your thoughts on this fight?
GM:     Me and Pedro Rizzo -- we're going to be the classic match of a wrestler versus kickboxer. I'm going to try and take him down. He' s going to try and knock me out. This is a great career opportunity for me. Rizzo is a good one to go against. I also think it's going to be fun. He's a tough guy. It should be enjoyable.

FCF:   How has your training with world-class striker Chuck Liddell helped you for this fight?
GM:     Chuck is a great training partner for me. He's pretty much the same [as Rizzo], maybe a little bit lighter. Chuck's a great kickboxer, the same style of fighting [as Rizzo]. There's nothing to worry about in taking him down and he's probably a little bit better wrestler than Rizzo.

FCF:   Let's fill in the fans in regards to your background in the combat arts. What discipline(s) did you start in?
GM:     I wrestled in high school and college. Chuck used to wrestle at Cal Poly too, but graduated a year or two before I went to college. And then there was also Scott Adams. He was wrestling in his senior year when I was a freshman. Chuck would come to work out at the gym after I was done wrestling. In my off-season, I started to stay and roll around with him and learn submissions. One day, Chuck asked me if I wanted to fight and I kinda fell into it from there. I didn't even wrestle my senior year. I just liked fighting so much that I decided to just do that.

FCF:   How far did you get with your college wrestling?
GM:     I went to nationals a few times, but never won it.

FCF:   You must have a very strong foundation in wrestling. What other aspects of the fight game do you train in today?
GM:     I work on a little bit of everything with Chuck -- kickboxing and submissions. I just try and stay well rounded.

FCF:   Chuck and Scott Adams own a successful training facility in San Luis Obispo and you are there as well. With all you fighters walking around, I imagine the crime rate must be lower.
GM:     It's a little college town, but there are so many fighters here! People are leery on the streets and you can tell they try and stay clam. They don't want to pick fights with anyone. You just never know who you are facing.

FCF:   Why do you think the UFC has called you back to fight again?
GM:     Maybe Chuck's success has gotten me in there. I'm not sure. Maybe I'm riding his coattails a little.

UFC 28: Gan McGee vs. Josh Barnett FCF:   Maybe it has to do with a little more than that. For one, the UFC is in need of more heavyweight competitors.
GM:     Yeah, I think they need some heavyweights too. I'm undefeated except for that one fight with Barnett and he became the champion.

FCF:   People in the industry have said you were "off" the night you fought Barnett, and fans didn't get to see what you were really capable of. What happened that night?
GM:     I had bronchitis, but I thought I 'd be able to win that fight anyway. I was undefeated at that point and it was just a mistake. I shouldn't have done it. I should have backed out when I wasn' t feeling 100%. I was doing well the first round, but then I ran out of gas. I couldn't breathe and my body just wouldn't respond anymore.

FCF:   If you could have fought that fight again, what would have you done differently?
GM:     I would have been healthy. Honestly, I just didn't think I'd lose. I was on a roll and although I was sick, I thought I could handle it anyway. I underestimated him.

FCF:   Do you train full-time?
GM:     I'm a security manager of a company that runs five bars here in town and a few others outside it.

FCF:   Do your workmates know about ultimate fighting?
GM:     Yes. They are very encouraging and want me to do well. It's actually a great job. It has real flexible hours and I can easily set my training schedule around it.

FCF:   Still, with this job you must find it hard to train all of the time, right?
GM:     I train about three hours a day. I have also been on a strict diet as well. So between dieting and training, that has really become my full-time job.

FCF:   Being a couple of weeks away from the show, what weight are you down to at this point?
GM:     Right now, I'm 270, 275. It's going to be easy to make weight.

IFC Battleground 2K: Gan McGee kneeing Brad Gabriel

FCF:   Do you think your weight will be a factor on how this fight plays out?
GM:     I don't know. I haven't been that light in a while, so it will be great for me. I shouldn't be that much heavier than him. What does he come in around? 240? I should have about 20 pounds on him, so at that weight I don't think it will be that much of a factor.

FCF:   What do you do in your free time besides MMA?
GM:     I lay a lot of video games. It helps when you're dieting and training. You kind of just want to lay around and it gives you something to do. It takes your mind off of other things.

FCF:   With all that dieting, I'm sure food is one your mind. What's the first food you will eat after your fight with Rizzo?
GM:     I haven't really thought about it. It's not that big of a deal to me. My weight is pretty good, so I haven't had to make it so strict. But, I could go for some good Italian.

FCF:   What are your goals in MMA?
GM:     I'd love to win the UFC title someday. I'd also love to fix that blemish on my record with a win over Barnett. But I don't what to get ahead of myself. For now, I'm just concentrating on Rizzo. I'm trying to stay focused.
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