When Eryk Anders returns to the UFC'S Octagon on Aug. 25, he'll be fighting against Tim Williams in a middleweight bout. But he's fighting for Trey White now.

White is a 14-year-old eighth-grader at Brookwood Middle School in Vance. Right now, though, he's at Children's of Alabama in Birmingham waiting for a heart transplant.

White was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The left side of the heart of a child born with HLHS is not fully developed. White had his first heart surgery when he was 3 days old.

Anders is pledging his fight shorts, UFC gym bag and four tickets to the weigh-in and the fight to the person making the biggest donation to White and his family. Anders also plans a meet-and-greet with the winner in Lincoln.

The Anders-Williams middleweight bout is on the card of the Ultimate Fighting Championship's visit to Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Aug. 25. The prize winner also gets a two-night hotel stay (but airfare is not included).

"Before every fight, I try to do something for somebody," Anders said. "My last fight in Brazil, I helped a little Brazilian girl get a prosthetic leg. The fight before that, I did something for a kid named Sam Hodnett. He was 4 years old at the time and had brain cancer. I helped raised money for his treatments."

Anders said he decided to assist White after asking for ideas on his Facebook page.

"Sometimes I know the person, I know the family," Anders said about choosing his pre-fight charity. "But a few months ago, I put something out on Facebook, and a bunch of people commented, and Trey was one of the people whose story really touched my heart. I wish I could do something for everybody."

Although Anders has plenty on his plate getting ready for the fight, he said his 7- and 9-year-old children serve as his inspiration to help.

"I've got kids, and I've often thought about what would happen if they got sick," Anders said. "I just thought I'd do stuff to help other people who may not necessarily have the means for themselves. I like doing it. I feel good doing it. I don't know, man, I just like doing stuff like that for other people."

Those wishing to donate are asked to email tjhodges247@gmail.com for more information.

Before entering mixed martial arts, Anders played football at Alabama from 2006 through 2009.

In his final game, Anders led Alabama with seven tackles in the Crimson Tide's 37-21 victory over Texas in the BCS national-championship game. Anders' fumble-causing sack of Texas quarterback Garret Gilbert with the Tide holding a 24-21 lead gave Alabama the football at the Longhorns' 3-yard line with 3:02 left in the game.

Anders has a 10-1 pro record as an MMA fighter, with a 2-1 mark while fighting under the UFC banner.

A benefit for White will be held by the Kountry Knites band from 1 to 6 p.m. CDT Sunday at Lakeview Country Club in McCalla. The event will feature live music, barbecue, raffles and a pool party.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.