That's where it all started to go wrong for the 29-year-old.

McFedries returns to action tonight against Patrick Cote on a UFC Fight Night card at the Palms. But the real fight for McFedries has been outside the octagon the past six months.

"No matter what that referee says at the end of the night, I've already won," he said.

About a month and a half after the victory in Florida, McFedries was diagnosed with a severe staph infection.

He spent more than two weeks in the hospital and was treated for more than a month on an outpatient basis. He underwent surgery in which a 10-by-8 inch piece of skin was removed, and his leg was closed up using more than 50 staples.

"When I woke up, I didn't know how much they took off me. I woke up thinking ... I could be missing a leg," he said.

After nearly three months of recovery, McFedries was finally able to resume training. He began focusing on his return to the octagon.

Then came Dec. 22.

Just before Christmas, McFedries' mother, Agnes McFedries-Kennedy, was found murdered in an alley in Davenport, Iowa.

The fighter declined to talk about the incident or his relationship with his mother as he prepares for tonight's fight, but he did discuss his decision not to postpone his return.

"I did think about it, but I think I would be doing myself an injustice," he said. "Given the circumstances, I need this both physically and emotionally. If I didn't have this, I would break down."

McFedries is known as a powerful striker who likes to put everything into the first few minutes of the fight. It's hard to imagine there won't be some extra emotion behind his punches.

"I think it will be a quick fight," he said. "People always (say) that I put so much into the first two or three minutes of a fight that I don't have anything left after that. I say, if a guy can survive that two or three minutes, then good for him."

Tonight's nine-fight card includes a welterweight bout between Josh Burkman and Mike Swick. The first bout is scheduled for 3:45 p.m., with the main card beginning at 6. The broadcast will be tape delayed on SpikeTV (Cable 29) at 9.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or (702) 224-5509.