UFC Honors Pereira With $25K Award During Fight Week

Alex Pereira collected a $25,000 community service award during UFC's Hall of Fame ceremony on July 9, capping a week of outreach events across Las Vegas tied to International Fight Week.

The former middleweight and heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight champion became the sixth recipient of the Forrest Griffin Community Award, presented by NinjaTrader, at the ceremony held at T-Mobile Arena. The honor recognizes exceptional volunteer work by UFC athletes. Pereira, who runs the Poatan Cares Foundation, told the crowd the donation would support his charity's programs, per UFC.com.

UFC Unveils Gym Space With Boys & Girls Club

Two days earlier, middleweights Caio Borralho and Jean Silva joined flyweight Ode Osbourne at the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada to open a new UFC-branded exercise room and nutrition cafe. "True partnership is about showing up and listening," said Yolanda Mationg, the club's chief development officer. "Every time we connect with UFC, they ask, 'What can we do to help?'" The ribbon-cutting drew more than 100 attendees, including students and partners.

Total Wireless and Main Event Protein provided giveaways for the kids at the July 7 event, which marked the latest collaboration between the promotion and the club during the buildup to UFC 329 on July 11. A statewide 50/50 raffle run throughout fight week grossed $117,280, with half the pot going to Nevada charities through the UFC Foundation and the other half to a single ticket holder who claimed $58,640.

More than 1,000 fans attended the Hall of Fame ceremony at T-Mobile Arena, where inductees from across the sport's history were honored. UFC's next community initiative is expected during the promotion's return to Las Vegas later this year.

Source: ufc.com