The UFC hosted a free fight night event last night to help raise awareness and money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a wonderful charity setup to provide support for families who have lost loved ones in service and for our wounded military personnel and veterans.

I've never cried at a UFC event before and I'm not happy about it happening last night (okay, maybe once when Serra took down GSP). I'll admit the first tear fell because I was sad to learn I was missing out on an entire stadium full of military guys and gals watching the only sport I know anything about.

All the tears that came after were because of those sad little stories they tell in between the fights. Why do they have to do that?

Here's the skinny, IFHF is planning to build a state of the art center (National Intrepid Center of Excellence) dedicated to research and treatment of military personnel and vets suffering from traumatic brain injury. This is referred to as TBI. If you watched the show it is burned into your brain. Not a slam, it was just kinda funny how many times they said it right after they said traumatic brain injury, or TBI.

I'm so proud of the UFC for taking the time to put this together. Sure, sure, they probably got something out of it (or maybe not, who knows) but the point is that IFHF surely got something more out of it. With any luck they raised enough to make quite a dent in the 20 mil they needed for the project.

I have been thinking lately about our veterans and some of the situations they find themselves in. One particular cornered me in Terminal D at the USO and inquired as to why the USO only recognizes active or retired service men (and women). After I got over my fear (KIDDING! He was a wonderful young man that made me laugh) I couldn't stop myself from starting to read up on veteran's affairs and the like.

My step-father, a WWII vet (don't laugh - he was 23 years older than my mother), received all his care from the VA when he was diagnosed with cancer several years back. Same goes for my father that I lost to cancer when I was six. Then there is my crazy Vietnam uncle (don't we all have one?) who was literally certifiable but the VA would not offer any assistance for his now diagnosed PTSD, so 30 years after the fact they are finally taking care of him. And my other sane-uncle who repressed his memories of Vietnam until, oh about 5 years ago, when he went ape shit crazy. Then there is my brother in law, a Gulf War vet that, although has always been a little too big for his britches so I don't blame the war, who may now have a child that they worry might be affected by GWS.

And then I have a friend of a friend that has a brother who was injured in Iraq. TBI. That entire situation is/was crazy. We had to sign petitions and write letters to congressmen to try to force the military to continue to care for him and to provide the numerous surgeries required to nurse him back to some order of health.

With the exception of my father and step-father who were taken care of quite well, all these other things are unbelievable to me. It is unfathomable to me that our vets and injured service members literally have backs turned on them. It's heartbreaking to read some of the stories or in my case witness the suffering of loved ones impacted by the complications of war.

Complications of war? Oh my, I'm all up on my soapbox. Gawd.

Basically, I just saying get involved. Somehow. Donate, volunteer, whatever.

You can donate to Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund by clicking here.

Every dollar counts.

(hope I didn't rip that off from someone...)

Join me later as I post fascinating moments from last night's fights. Josh Kos rocked the mo fo...and that arm bar made me want to vomit.