Beneil Dariush will be honored by the UFC for his charitable work during this year’s International Fight Week.
On Saturday, promotion officials announced via press release, and with an announcement on the UFC Vegas 91 broadcast, that lightweight Dariush would receive this year’s Forrest Griffin Community Award.
The award honors UFC athletes who demonstrate “exceptional volunteer and charity work” while having a positive impact on their communities. Dariush, 34, began working with the Shlama Foundation in 2018, a charity to help the Assyrian Chaldean Syriac in Iraq, particularly Nineveh (Mosul), who were displaced by ISIS. The following year, the lightweight used a $50,000 post-fight bonus to establish a pair of orphanages in Haiti, alongside Promise Child Ministries.
At King’s MMA, meanwhile, Beneil Dariush teaches youth jiu-jitsu and self-defense classes five days a week.
“Beneil does an incredible job giving back to his community,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White in Saturday’s press release. “Beneil sets a perfect example of how athletes should use their platforms to raise awareness for the charitable causes they care about the most while helping those who are less fortunate. It’s an honor to present him with this award.”
The UFC will make a $25,000 donation to a charity of Dariush’s choosing in conjunction with him winning the award. He will receive the honor during this year’s UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony on June 27 in Las Vegas.
