LAS VEGAS, NV – Randy Couture, UFC and MMA legend, has been running a non-profit foundation out of his local mixed martial arts gym, Xtreme Couture MMA, that aims to help the lives and families of veterans who have been injured while serving in the United States Military.
On Sept 19, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) announced that they have decided to partner up with Couture, who's currently the color commentator for the PFL, by making donations and running events during the PFL Playoffs that take place in Las Vegas, NV throughout the month of October to support his foundation.
The Xtreme Couture GI Foundation was created in 2009 and has helped many injured veterans when government funds weren’t quite enough. For Couture, this wasn’t just something he wanted to do to help other people; this was something that hits home with him. He served in the US Army for six years before joining the MMA. This foundation has also partnered up with the Merging Vets and Players (MVP) organization that helps veterans and professional athletes get through their retirement and transition smoothly back to civilian life. Dave Harris, who works with MVP, is a participant of the GI Foundation. They helped him get a service animal after he left the military and they are helping him get stem cells to aid his hip replacement.
“Being part of that small percentage of the population doesn’t make us broken or weird. It makes us special,” Couture said.
Part of their efforts will be to provide tickets to military members for each of the playoff events, along with selling tickets for a 50/50 raffle at each event. At the end of each event, 50% of the proceeds from the raffle will be donated to the Xtreme Couture GI Foundation and 50% of the raffle proceeds will be given to the lucky winner whose ticket was chosen.
The PFL has three playoff events taking place in October, all of them at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. The playoffs get started with an event that takes place on Oct 11, followed by events on Oct 17 and Oct 31. Each night, two of the six weight classes will have their Quarterfinals and Semifinals fights. Whichever fighters are able to win both of their fights will move on to the championship night, which takes place in New York City on New Years Eve. On that night, all six weight classes will have their championship match.
Last year’s Light Heavyweight champion, Sean O’Connell, said, “It felt good to be able to go out on top and retire with a win.” Four out of the six defending champions from last year will be returning to the playoffs this year and they’ll be looking to defend their titles, while taking home the $1 million grand prize.
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