FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- Combining a mix of boxing, Greco-Roman wrestling and dozens of martial arts techniques, Ultimate Fighting Championship showcases a blend of fighting skills now known as mixed martial arts.
Next month, Fort Campbell Soldiers will surround The Octagon for a special, three-hour live televised event - UFC Fight for the Troops. UFC and Fox Sports 1 have joined forces to broadcast the event live from the installation starting at 6 p.m. Nov. 6.
"I think it's a very unique opportunity for Soldiers to be able to watch top-flight competition such as the UFC," said Van Stokes, recreation division chief of Fort Campbell's Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. "This is a Fight for the Troops. The bottom line is we're grateful that the UFC has considered bringing this competition to Fort Campbell."
Headlining the event will be Army Green Beret Tim Kennedy and also feature armed forces Veterans Liz Carmouche and Colton Smith, among other UFC fighters.
"We're bringing a really good card to Fort Campbell, featuring some of our best fighters," said Dana White, UFC president in an email. "Our events for the troops are always some of our best and I expect nothing less on Nov. 6."
Kennedy will face Brazilian Rafael Natal in the main event. The website, www.ufc.com, has the most up-to-date details on the fight card.
"Some of the competitors will have a deep connection with the audience and the Soldiers who are watching will certainly feel a great connection to those Veterans in the ring," Stokes said. "It's a great opportunity for Soldiers to watch a premier mixed martial arts competition."
The fight will raise funds for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which has provided "nearly $150 million in support for the Families of military personnel lost in service to our Nation, and for severely wounded military personnel and Veterans," according to www.fallenheroesfund.org/.
"We have worked closely with the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and key personnel from the U.S. military for a long time," White said. "Supporting the men and women of our armed forces is a very, very important initiative for us."
In June, military leaders and officials broke ground at Fort Campbell for the third of nine planned National Intrepid Center of Excellence Satellite Centers. The center will provide the most advanced diagnosis and treatment protocols for military heroes suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"After learning more about Fort Campbell and its efforts to soon offer the most advanced diagnosis and treatment for service members and Veterans suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress, we knew we wanted to bring this event there," White added. "We look forward to helping raise money and awareness for the NICoE satellite center at Fort Campbell."
To date the UFC has hosted two UFC Fight for the Troops events (2008 and 2011) that helped raise $4 million for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and The National Intrepid Center of Excellence.
"... our goal is to only make that bigger," White said. "Working closely with our broadcast partner, FOX Sports 1, we're going to reach millions of fans and bring awareness to the great work being done by Fort Campbell and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. We're going to raise a lot of money for this great cause."
Details about ways to donate or bid on exclusive auction items are available at https://www.ufcfightforthetroops.com/.
UFC Fight for the Troops is exclusively for Fort Campbell Soldiers. Soldiers will be issued tickets through their units beginning Oct. 30. Remaining tickets will go to one guest per ticketholder. Guests must be 18 or older.
"We've built a card with some really exciting fights. For our troops at Fort Campbell, this event is for you," White said. "Come out, sit back, relax and enjoy this event. We can't wait to come to Fort Campbell!"
UFC history
• Originating from the full contact sport of Vale tudo in Brazil, the Ultimate Fighting Championship was created in the United States in 1993. Today, the UFC is the premier organization in MMA and enforces the unified rules of Mixed Martial Arts without exception. With more than 20 fights every year, the UFC hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the world. Events are held not only in America, but in many countries all over the globe.
Source: http://www.ufc.com/
Ticket information:
The "Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight for the Troops" will be broadcast live from Fort Campbell Nov. 6 on Fox Sports 1.
* Tickets to the "UFC Fight for the Troops" at Sabre Army Airfield Nov. 6 are being allocated to units based on their population and will be distributed to Soldiers. Operations will issue the tickets on or about Wednesday to brigade representatives who will be responsible for distribution to Soldiers within their respective units.
* Admittance to the event will require a ticket and ID card. Each Soldier will receive a personal ticket and may receive one additional ticket for a Family member, provided that they are 18 years or older and have a Family member ID card. Unused tickets will be returned to Operations no later than noon Nov. 5 for redistribution.
* For entry to the event, Soldiers must be in ACUs and the Family member will be in a UFC-issued T-Shirt.
Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. and Soldiers are to be in their seats by 2:05 p.m. for the National Anthem. Spectators are expected to remain for the entire event. No video or professional cameras are allowed. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
*The first bout is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. The main card will begin at 6 p.m.
Related Links:
Interpid Fallen Heores Fund - Twitter
Ultimate Fighting Championship - Twitter
101st Airborne Division - Facebook
Fort Campbell Courier - Facebook
Interpid Fallen Heores Fund - Facebook
Ultimate Fighting Championship - Facebook
101st Airborne Division - Twitter
Fort Campbell Courier - Twitter
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