Okay, so, I want to share this thing I did recently. It all started when I saw this opportunity to fight at UFC 303 on short notice. Normally, I wouldn’t jump at something like this, but there was something else on my mind. You see, I’d been thinking a lot about giving back to my community, and I had this idea to make a big donation to Fearless Church. It was a substantial amount, $100,000, and I wanted to use it to support youth programs in my area.
So, when this fight came up, it was like a sign. I thought, “What better way to raise the money than through something I’m passionate about?” It was nerve-racking, to say the least. I mean, taking a fight with only 17 days to prepare? That’s insane, even for me. But the thought of helping those kids, of giving them opportunities I wish I had when I was younger, that was the main driving force.
I reached out to my Pastor, and we talked about how the donation could make a real difference. His support was another push for me to go through with it. Now, about the fight itself… things didn’t go exactly as planned.
Initially, I was supposed to go up against Alexander Volkanovski, which would have been huge. I’ve fought him before, and that bout earned me a solid $300,000, even though I lost. But this time, it was a different opponent, Diego Lopes, and it was set as the co-main event for UFC 303. Big stage, you know?
Unfortunately, the day of the fight, I had to pull out. It was a health issue, and there was just no way I could compete. I was so bummed. Not just about missing the fight, but also because it felt like I was letting down those kids. I later found out that Dan Ige stepped in for me on just a few hours’ notice, which was pretty awesome of him.
But here’s the thing: even though I couldn’t fight, I was still determined to make that donation. I worked it out, and even though I didn’t earn the fight purse, I still managed to contribute the full $100,000 to Fearless Church. It was a promise I made, and I was going to keep it, no matter what.
What I Did
- Decided to donate $100,000 to Fearless Church to support youth programs.
- Accepted a fight at UFC 303 on short notice to help raise the funds.
- Reached out to my Pastor to discuss the donation and get his support.
- Prepared for the fight against Diego Lopes, which was supposed to be the co-main event.
- Withdrew from the fight on the day of the event due to a health issue.
- Ensured the $100,000 donation was still made to Fearless Church despite not fighting.
It was a rollercoaster, no doubt. But at the end of the day, knowing that those kids are going to benefit from this makes it all worth it. I mean, that’s what it’s all about, right? Using whatever platform you have to make a positive impact. And hey, there’s always the next fight. I’m not done yet.
Reflections
This whole experience has been incredibly rewarding, despite the setbacks. It’s reminded me that sometimes, things don’t go as planned, but that doesn’t mean you give up on what you believe in. It’s about finding a way to make things work, even when it’s tough. And most importantly, it’s about the impact we can have on others. Seeing the potential for those kids to have better opportunities because of this donation is something I’ll always cherish.
