Kobe Bryant made hundreds of millions of dollars in salary and endorsements during his remarkable NBA career, but he was also a very savvy investor. One of the ways he spent his money in recent years was by purchasing an ownership stake in the UFC, and UFC president Dana White says Kobe was extremely excited about the future of the organization.
White was asked by TMZ this week if the UFC is planning to honor Bryant, who has inspired athletes from all sports. White said there will be a tribute to Kobe at UFC 247 on Saturday night, and White also revealed that Kobe was an investor in the UFC and Body Armour, which is the official energy drink of the UFC.
“Kobe got a distribution from the UFC the Wednesday before the incident,” White said. “He was so pumped up and so excited. He said what everybody always says — I wish I invested more.”
White also said he knew Bryant on a personal level.
“He was a great dude,” White added. “He was a part of this company. Kobe Bryant was a good guy in every way that you could possibly be a good guy.”
Kobe was obviously best known for being a five-time NBA champion, but his impact was felt well outside the basketball arena. We saw an illustration of that with the way he was honored at the Super Bowl, and his involvement with the UFC is further proof.
More Larry Brown Sports coverage of Kobe Bryant’s death:
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Tributes to Kobe:
– Vanessa Bryant posts first Instagram message since death of Kobe, Gianna
– NBA players changing jersey numbers in honor of Kobe Bryant
– Clippers leave Kobe Bryant’s retired Lakers jerseys uncovered at Staples Center
– Bill Belichick shares touching anecdote in tribute to Kobe Bryant
– UConn honors Gianna Bryant with own jersey, spot on the bench
– Jeanie Buss shares emotional tribute to Kobe, Gianna Bryant on Instagram
– Kobe Bryant could have street named after him near Staples Center
– Video: Shaq gets emotional talking about Kobe Bryant on TNT
– Shareef O’Neal shares most important advice Kobe Bryant gave him
– LeBron James had inspirational message for Lakers during meeting about Kobe
– Video: See LeBron’s tribute speech to Kobe before Lakers game
– Richard Sherman arrived to Super Bowl wearing Kobe Bryant shirt
– Russell Wilson wears Kobe Bryant jersey during Super Bowl pregame coverage
– Dallas Mavericks retire Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 jersey
– Video: Raptors, Spurs start game with amazing tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Shaq posts heartfelt tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Michael Jordan releases statement on death of ‘little brother’ Kobe Bryant
– Video: Doc Rivers breaks down crying talking about Kobe Bryant
– Phil Jackson calls Kobe Bryant ‘a chosen one’ in statement on his death
– NBA commissioner Adam Silver issues statement on death of Kobe Bryant
– Video: Dwyane Wade posts emotional message reacting to Kobe Bryant’s death
– Kendrick Perkins extends olive branch to Kevin Durant after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Gilbert Arenas vows to begin coaching career like Kobe Bryant urged him to
– Video: Emotional Mike Breen sums up NBA world’s emotions about Kobe Bryant’s death
– Damian Lillard puts Kobe Bryant into context with great quote
– Chiefs, 49ers honor Kobe Bryant by lining up at 24-yard line before Super Bowl
– Trae Young’s huge game was full of Kobe Bryant-related statistical coincidences
More coverage:
– Video: Kobe Bryant helicopter audio released
– Investigators release chilling drone footage from Kobe Bryant helicopter crash site
– Kobe Bryant helicopter showed no evidence of engine failure
– Media errors, rumors, poor judgment run rampant in reporting of Kobe Bryant news
– TMZ says they had permission from Kobe’s people to report Bryant had died
– NBA postpones Tuesday’s Lakers-Clippers game after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Shaq says he had not spoken to Kobe Bryant in nearly four years
– Kobe Bryant recently filed for ‘Mambacita’ trademark for daughter Gianna
– Kobe Bryant checked in on Shaq’s son Shareef morning of helicopter crash
– No, Rick Fox did not die in helicopter crash that killed Kobe, Gianna Bryant
– Lakers fans start memorial to Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center
– Kobe Bryant’s last tweet was congratulating LeBron James on passing him
– Sports world stunned over Kobe Bryant news
– Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash – dead at 41
Other victims of the helicopter crash:
– John Altobelli, junior college baseball coach, also died in helicopter crash
– Christina Mauser, girls’ basketball coach, among the helicopter crash victims
– Sarah Chester, daughter Payton were also killed in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
– Ara Zobayan was the pilot in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
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