UFC donates $1 million to Maui wildfire relief effort
The wildfire that recently swept across Maui has been nothing short of devastating. In an effort to help monetarily and to raise awareness, UFC president Dana White on Sunday announced his company would donate $1 million to Maui fire relief efforts.
He also noted that the company is also selling a “UFC ❤️ Hawaii” t-shirt with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the fire relief efforts in Hawaii. Lastly, he pleaded with UFC sponsors, affiliates, and supporters to also assist in the relief effort.
“It’s been horrible to see the wildfires raging across Maui, causing devastation to that beautiful place and the amazing people who call it home,” White said.
“I want you all to know that you are not alone. The Hawaiian people embody the warrior spirit like no one else. And we stand with you. In that spirit, UFC is going to make a million dollar donation to support Hawaii relief efforts.”
Several prominent UFC fighters are from Hawaii
White and company have long wanted to host an event in Hawaii, but that has yet to come to fruition for one reason or another. The UFC president has noted that negotiations with the tourism board in Hawaii have been part of the issues that need to be resolved, although other fight promotions have hosted events in Hawaii.
There are, however, numerous fighters from the island state that have made their mark in the Octagon.
UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn and UFC featherweight legend Max Holloway are chief among the fighters that immediately come to mind when thinking about Hawaiian fighters.
Brad Tavares, who is also from Hawaii, is fighting at UFC 292 this weekend in Boston, Mass. Tavares squares off against former middleweight champion Chris Weidman in a UFC 292 feature fight.
Dana White put onus on Hawaii’s tourism board for lack of event in 2018
White said in 2018 that the UFC had an event planned for Hawaii, but the tourism board shot it down. He didn’t elaborate on the reasoning.
As of August 2023, the UFC has yet to hold an event in Hawaii. Not even a smaller UFC Fight Night event has yet to grace the island.
https://www.mmaweekly.com/ufcnews/maui-fire-relief-effort-ufc-1-million-donation
