This past weekend's "UFC Fight Night 23: UFC Fights for the Troops 2" event drew an announced crowd of 3,200.MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) confirmed the attendance mark with UFC officials.
However, the Jan. 22 show, which served as a fundraiser for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, featured free tickets for uniformed military personnel, so no live gate was calculated.
UFC Fight Night 23 took place at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. It was the second "Fight for the Troops" show following a 2008 debut at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The night's main card aired on Spike TV, and four preliminary-card fights streamed for free on Facebook.
As MMAjunkie.com reported Sunday, phone callers donated more than $600,000 for the IFHF on the night of the show. The total will hit the millions once online donations, auction proceeds and this week's additional gifts are calculated.
Headlined by Melvin Guillard's first-round win over fellow lightweight Evan Dunham, UFC Fight Night 23 took place in a hanger at Fort Hood. The building was surrounded by tanks and helicopters, which provided one of the most unique venues in UFC history.
As UFC broadcaster Mike Goldberg told MMAjunkie.com's Dann Stupp in the "Dayton Daily News," the military shows prove life-changing events.
"After visiting with some of the guys and ... witnessing their struggle with [traumatic brain injuries], well, it was by far the most exhausting event I personally think we do in the UFC," Goldberg said. "It’s just a roller coaster of high and lows. It’s very emotional.
"You leave there a different person."
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