The UFC has a longstanding relationship with the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a charity dedicated to treating troops with PTSD and traumatic brain injury. In 2008 the UFC held an event in Fayetteville called "UFC: Fight for the Troops" which raised over $4-million for the IFHF. In 2011 the UFC visited Fort Hood with "UFC: Fight for the Troops 2" and raised a similar amount for the IFHF again. Today the USMC ended it's relationship with the UFC by letting it's sponsorship with the promotion expire. This follows a new directive in which the USAF are pulling sponsorship from sporting events. The US Army recently stopped sponsoring NASCAR as well. The culinary union 226 (closely tied to Unite Here) is thought to have played a role in the USMC severing ties with the UFC. UFC owners Frank & Lorenzo Fertitta are the owner/operators of Station Casinos Inc., the largest non-union casino chain in Nevada, and Unite Here have been antagonizing them and UFC President Dana White as much as possible in an effort to convert Station Casinos to union labour. 226 is credited with keeping MMA unregulated in the State of New York, the only state in the union with an athletic commission that doesn't currently regulate the sport. Regulation is of paramount importance for the safety of the athletes as well as to prevent their exploitation.
