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UFC star Court McGee has revealed that he previously 'died' for eight minutes after overdosing on heroin.
The welterweight veteran joined the UFC over 15 years ago and now boasts an MMA record of 22-14 - but his biggest fight came years before stepping inside the cage.
McGee took to Instagram on Wednesday to reveal the shocking tale to his followers, which occurred five years before he became a UFC star.
The 40-year-old wrote: 'On September 9, 2005, I overdosed on heroin and was gone for eight minutes.
'What should have been the end of my story became the beginning of a second chance.
'Today, I carry deep gratitude for recovery - for the breath in my lungs, the strength to live with purpose, and the gift of a life I almost lost.
Court McGee has revealed that he once 'died' for eight minutes after overdosing on heroin
The UFC star took to Instagram to share the harrowing tale with his followers
'Every day sober is proof that hope is stronger than despair'.
In a separate post, just days prior, he said: 'Recovery has given me a second chance at life—one day at a time, one step at a time.
'I’m humbled by the journey, thankful for the people who’ve walked alongside me, and hopeful for anyone still struggling that healing is possible.
This isn't the first time that the UFC star has spoken about his addiction struggles.
In an interview with KSL back in 2010, just after signing for the UFC, he revealed: 'I started hanging out with the wrong people - drinking, partying. It went from that to worse, to drinking every night'.
McGee revealed that - after suffering an injury to his clavicle - he required surgery and it was at that point in which he was introduced to painkillers.
'I started mixing that with the alcohol and then it got worse,' Court remembered. 'It went from that to cocaine and heroin, and then overdose.'
Meanwhile, during an episode of The Ultimate Fighter, he once revealed: 'I took one drink in Vegas and I ended up in Iowa four days later with no pants on and a long sleeve shirt, looking for meth.
McGee, 40, has fought in the UFC for 15 years and has a professional MMA record of 22-14
His last fight - back in June - saw him suffer a unanimous decision defeat to Michael Chiesa
'I was strung out, the heroin addict, the drunk, the liar, the cheat, the thief. That's who I thought I was. I never thought I was going to amount to nothing'.
Since overcoming his addiction issues, McGee has enjoyed a successful UFC career - despite winning just one of his last five bouts inside the octagon.
His most recent bout saw him fall to a unanimous decision defeat to Michael Chiesa, back in June, following his win over Tim Means back in October last year.
He has never fought for a UFC title and is currently unranked.
Outside of the cage, McGee has three sons - Isaac, 18, Crew, 15, and Nash, 4 - with wife Chelsea.
