At today’s UFC 246 press-conference, UFC star Conor McGregor has announced that he will be looking to aid the Australian firefighters and first responders through sales of his Proper No. 12 whisky.
Asked about his views on the Australian MMA market, McGregor didn’t hesitate to immediately turn his attention to the victims of the disaster.
“What’s going on in Australia is heartbreaking at the minute. In New South Wales, I have many friends, many Irish people are over there and it’s very sad to see. I’m very proud to be assisting with the UFC in their efforts in helping,” McGregor told the audience.
Earlier in the week, the UFC and their parent company Endeavour pledged a donation US$250,000 to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and followed that up with limited edition “UFC Supports Australia” t-shirt with 100% profits going to Australian Red Cross.
Please join UFC in supporting relief efforts from the Australian Bushfire crisis.
Purchase a “UFC Supports Australia” t-shirt at https://t.co/Lo6taNiNgz
➡️ 100% of the profits from the sales will benefit the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund. pic.twitter.com/GPi5pQBXPm
— UFC (@ufc) January 14, 2020
McGregor wants to add further funding to the disaster which has claimed at least 28 lives, destroyed or damaged 3,000 homes and killed an estimated 500 million animals.
“A thing I do for Proper 12, is we support first responders in America currently. We’ve reached a threshold where we are donating $1 million per annum to the first responders. We are currently vetting organisations to donate this revenue and we [will] have an announcement after the fight but since this stuff has happened in Australia, I have shifted focus and we are working now to aid the Australian firefighters and first responders out there.”
In November, McGregor announced that starting from 2020, the first $1 million in sales of Proper 12 whisky will go to first responders in the USA.
“It means a lot. I know Australia is a strong nation. I know they will fight on and conquer this. The world is with them. God speed Australia!”
Donations can be made to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund at the link.