As you may know, UFC President Dana White is set to make a special announcement during the 2009 Video Game Awards on Spike TV this coming Thursday. However, somebody at Zuffa's new (and probably soon to be fired) PR firm, Manning Selvage & Lee, unwittingly sent this press release out to a limited number of reporters. One at a major daily located in the midwest, forwarded it to me.

UFC AND SPIKE TV Present - UFC Fight for the Fighters

Three-Hour UFC Live Event On August 19, 2009, From Las Vegas, NV, To Raise Money For Underpaid UFC Fighters

May 28, 2009 - NEW YORK, NY: The Ultimate Fighting Championship® and Spike TV have joined forces to present "UFC Fight For The Fighters", a special three-hour live televised event on Wednesday, August 19, 2009, starting at 9:00 PM ET to raise funds for UFC fighters in need of financial assistance.

Patriot Communications will provide the overall telecommunications, call center, and Internet donation processing support for this extraordinary event.

The goal of "UFC Fight For The Fighters®" is to raise the necessary funds for UFC fighters to take care of themselves and their families, and to live with dignity upon retirement.

"With this event on August 19th, we hope to raise hundreds, or even thousands of dollars for UFC fighters, many of whom have been significantly underpaid relative to their contributions to the company and the sport," said Dana White, UFC President. "The days of Keith Jardine eating cat food are over."

"Spike TV has the deepest respect and admiration for the fighters who put their lives on the line for us in the cage," said Kevin Kay, Spike TV President. "Spike TV is proud to be a part of raising funds to help fighters live a decent lifestyle. With this announcement, Dana White has shown that he truly is the Ultimate Philanthropist®, and not just a ruthless, Ferrari-driving multi-millionaire."

"I have not been this excited for a UFC event since UFC 78. Giving something back to these struggling fighters is something I will talk about at dinner parties for years to come, said Lorenzo Fertitta, UFC co-founder. "An added bonus of this event is that fans will be able to do the same at their own dinner parties. This is the twenty-first century equivalent of adopting an African child."

Spike TV will telecast "UFC Fight For The Fighters" live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV, Wednesday, August 19, 2008, from 9:00 PM - Midnight, ET. The event will feature a full UFC fight card as well as celebrity appearances and an all-star lineup of UFC fighters. A phone bank in Los Angeles, CA, will also be created where donors can interact with the celebrities and UFC fighters answering phones. Further details on appearances and event information will be released soon.

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While Dana & Co. have been widely criticized for underpaying fighters, this is a good way to right the wrongs of the past. The UFC is far from perfect, but they are doing their best to take care of the fighters.

Some may argue that the UFC itself should pay fighters more, rather than asking fans who routinely pay $44.95 for pay-per-views and upwards of $500 for a UFC ticket to do it for them. But the way I see it, anything that gets bucks in the pockets of fighters is a good thing.

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