There comes an inevitable point in a mixed martial arts fighter’s career that every punch, kick, elbow, knee, and takedown they throw seems like a repetitive cycle of never ending body pains and injuries. As a way to counteract, a lot of fighters look at different ways to cope with life outside the cage. Since the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s home base is in Las Vegas, some of its fighters unwind in the city’s high-rolling hotel casinos during their rare off days. Ironically, not only are these hotel casinos famous for their lucrative games and limitless jackpot, they also serve as a venue for some of UFC’s major fight cards. Mixed martial arts and hotel casinos go hand in hand. They form a perfect combination of adrenaline junkies and rabid sports fans converging under one roof to enjoy the spectacle epic proportions found in a mixed martial arts fight. Furthermore, these highly profitable institutions also share the same mentality when it comes to giving back to the community.
MMA and Casinos Good Karma
Casinos’ charity works have been well-publicized. They regularly sponsor events to raise funds for different causes and collaborate with organizations to further increase awareness. Casinos from other countries like Canada also see this as an opportunity to help those in need. Formerly named the Brantford Charity Casino, the OLG Casino Brantford in Ontario allots a small portion of its profits from their slot machines to other qualified charities. Even joining the benevolent bandwagon are live casinos’ cyber counterparts. Partycasino.com and other online casino sites have penetrated the gaming market with the help of modern age technology, and some of these websites were able to effectively contribute to the greater good of people through donations and various humanitarian projects. Whether it is live or online, casino enthusiasts are thrilled by the idea of offering a helping hand while still maintaining the entertainment value of the casino games.
On the other hand, the UFC and its fighters are not just testosterone-driven men fueled by the urge of knocking each other out senselessly. They also have a soft spot when it comes to helping the less fortunate. These fighters have different causes and each target a specific sector in the community. For instance, lightweight contender Edson Barboza’s chosen charity is the Combat Athletes for Nova Friburgo, which aims to raise money and support the relief efforts of a disaster-stricken Nova Fribugo, Brazil. American hero and Marine Captain, Brian Stann is fully-committed to running his charity called Hire Heroes USA, which is an organization that helps military vets get back on their feet and find a job. The UFC Women’s Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey together with UFC ring girl Arianny Celeste took the road less traveled and auctioned off their used sports bras on eBay to raise funds for the battle against breast cancer. These diverse acts of kindness that were displayed by different groups in the community show the true essence of charity and camaraderie. It only goes to show that it pays to give back to the community who had – in one way or another – helped them reach their statuses in their respective industries.
