UFC Fight for the Troops 2 will help raise money for the Canadian Hero Fund

By Mike Johnston

@ MikeyJ_MMA

In addition to being an exciting fight card, UFC Fight for the Troops 2 is being held to assist the Armed Forces in the United States and Canada. In Canada, the live event, which takes place at Fort Hood in Texas, will air on Rogers Sportsnet at 9:00pm ET, Saturday, January 22, and raise funds for the Canadian Hero Fund, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting Canadian military personnel and their families.

The card is headlined by lightweight contenders Melvin Guillard and Evan Dunham and also features two of Canada’s best mixed martial artists. Ontario’s Mark Hominick takes on his former teammate George Roop in a featherweight bout. With a win Hominick will earn a title shot against Jose Aldo at UFC 129 in Toronto. Edmonton’s Tim Hague faces TUF 10 vet and former NFL player Matt Mitrione in the night’s co-main event. This is Hague’s third stint in the UFC and needs an impressive performance to remain on the roster. Hague is currently Canada’s top heavyweight.

Although these fights mean a lot to the men participating in them, the evening is about something more important altogether. “Our soldiers take care of us, and this is our chance to help take care of them,” said UFC Director of Canadian Operations Tom Wright. “We’re honoured to support our military by putting on some great fights while helping raise funds for the Canadian Hero Fund.”

Rogers Sportsnet will air special features throughout the broadcast in support of the Canadian Forces who served in Afghanistan. Also, many Canadian UFC fighters will talk about the importance the Canadian Hero Fund and the men and women who serve in the military. “This is a great opportunity to bring together those who fight for their country, those who fight for a living, and the Hero Fund that supports those who serve,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Cliff Trollope, Commanding Officer of the Royal Regiment of Canada. “The bond is a natural one that will only get stronger as we spend more time together."

The Canadian Hero Fund was founded in 2009 and is a registered charity dedicated to assisting military personnel and their families. The initial project of the Canadian Hero Fund is to provide post-secondary scholarships to the children and spouses of fallen Canadian soldiers. The organization’s motto “Keeping Their Dreams Alive” stands for the dreams of the families and children that are sustained through Canadian Hero Fund support programs, as well as the dreams of fallen soldiers who wanted more for future generations.

Information about ways to donate can be found online at herofund.ca and ufc.com.

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