UFC stars are helping community programs in Toronto this week, ahead of Saturday's highly anticipated fight at the Rogers Centre.
Lightweight Sam Stout kicked off Fight Week on Tuesday by teaching some of his moves to young fighters at the Cabbagetown Youth Centre.
The UFC announced the centre would be the first place in Canada to receive funds from the UFC Community Works program.
Tom Wright, the UFC's director of Canadian operations said, "In celebration of UFC 129 we've made an initial contribution to UFC Community Works of $129,000 on a nation-wide program."
The classes at the centre are free for kids living in at-risk neighborhoods like St. Jamestown.
The program is currently experiencing funding problems and will be given $10,000 from the UFC to buy much-needed equipment like mats.
Spiros Papathanasakis, a representative of the Cabbagetown Youth Centre, said the kids come to the centre to have structure in their lives and in return they get confidence to become great people.
Local bars and restaurants in Toronto are also preparing for Saturday's fight. Heather Talbot, a supervisor at the St. Louis Bar and Grill, said she is bringing in extra staff to the bar because people are already calling and asking to watch the fight.
"I don't think it's just going to be a one-day thing. It's going to bring people as of Friday. I think people will be here and there will be a good buzz," she said.
Josh Ryan, a UFC fan, said, "I think it's going to be huge for the city."
The UFC said Saturday's fight likely won't be the last one to be held in Toronto.
The upcoming fight has had record-breaking sales and is also expected to pump $30-40 million dollars into the city's economy. Tickets for the fight sold out in minutes and will be the biggest fight in the history of the UFC.
Other upcoming UFC-related events this week include a press conference that will be open to the public on Wednesday, a party at Yonge-Dundas Square on Thursday, and a Fan Expo on Friday.
With files from CTV Toronto's Naomi Parness
