As news unfolded Sunday night and into Monday morning of the worst mass shooting in United States history, it’s proximity to the heart of the MMA world was not lost on the sport’s fans. The shooting at the Mandalay Bay casino and nearby Route 91 Harvest Festival sent shockwaves around the globe, and for the UFC, it was a terrifying act right in its own back yard. On Monday, UFC President Dana White told Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review Journal that the promotion would be donating one million dollars to support the families of the victims of the shooting.
UFC president Dana White tells me the organization will donate $1 million to the families of those affected by the tragedy in Las Vegas
— Adam Hill (@AdamHillLVRJ) October 2, 2017
The news was later confirmed by MMA Fighting. The promotion has historically hosted over two dozen events at the Mandalay Bay. Gunman Stephen Paddock positioned himself on the 32nd floor of the hotel and opened fire on the crowd at the nearby festival, killing over 50 concertgoers and injuring hundreds. No motive for the attack has yet been uncovered.
UFC 216, which is set to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this weekend, is expected to proceed as planned. Tony Ferguson is set to take on Kevin Lee for the interim lightweight title in the main event. In a statement to Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Iole, the promotion stated that “our focus right now is on supporting the community and those affected by Sunday evening’s events. UFC 216 on Saturday, October 7 at T-Mobile Arena will proceed as scheduled until further notice.”
