UFC fighters and New Jersey Devils players will visit the Boys & Girls Club of Newark on Wednesday, May 6. A ribbon cutting ceremony takes place that afternoon with programming for local youth. The event marks the opening of the first UFC Youth Wellness Center.
The visit comes three days before UFC 328: CHIMAEV VS STRICKLAND at Prudential Center on Saturday, May 9. This marks the fourth straight year the organization has brought an event to Newark.
UFC light heavyweight Khalil Rountree will attend. Former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling joins him. Devils defenseman Johnny Kovacevic, goaltender Jake Allen, and former defenseman Colin White will also participate. Government officials and the team mascot NJ Devil round out the guest list.
The wellness center was built through a partnership between the UFC Foundation, NJSEA, HBSE/Prudential Center, Devils Youth Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Club of Newark. The facility focuses on mental, physical, and emotional health programs for area youth.
Introductions and speeches start at 3:30 PM, followed by the ribbon cutting at 3:45 PM.
A tour of the facility begins at 4:00 PM. Local youth will join the event at 4:30 PM. The athletes and hockey players plan to share stories and spend time with the children during afternoon programming. Staff from Prudential Center and the Devils Youth Foundation will also interact with the kids.
The event combines the ceremonial opening with hands-on mentorship opportunities.
The new facility shows the foundation’s commitment to the Newark community. It provides resources focused on overall wellness rather than just athletics. This community outreach happens ahead of the main card at Prudential Center, which has hosted three previous events in recent years.
The partnership between NJSEA, the arena operators, the team’s foundation, and the youth club created the space. Professional athletes from two different sports will mix with Newark’s young people, offering different perspectives on training and competition.
The ceremony celebrates four years of events in Newark. Each visit has included community programming alongside the fight cards.