UFC lightweight Nick Hein is a former national Judo champion and police officer in his native Germany. On New Year’s Eve there was an incident involving refugees at a train station in Cologne, Germany.
When the fighter voiced his opinion, it made national news in Germany, with appearances on all the national television channels and radio stations. Now Hein’s response has gone international, with an a recent appearance on CNN, and ones to follow on other international news outfits.
The bottom line to this fighter and former police officer is that the attacks on revelers are caused by a small minority of immigrants, who have been causing problems for a long period of time, are not representative of immigrants generally.
Hein understands that the solution is not to turn refugees away. In fact, he says some of his training partners are new Syrian arrivals. and he wants to start a boxing program for refugees.
“When they need help, they should get help, they should receive that,” he told CNN. “Give them an opportunity to be part of the society. Everything is going to be way better than it is right now.”
Hein agree with tougher law enforcement, for any crime. But not for deportations, or turning refugees away. Keeping the door open, he says, is still the right thing to do.
Hein entered the UFC on a 10-1 record, with one No Contest. He won his first UFC fight, in front of a fellow German crowd in Berlin. He lost his next one. But he then won his next two, earning unanimous decisions over Łukasz Sajewski, and most recently over Yusuke Kasuya in Saitama, Japan.
In addition to being a cop, Judoka, and fighter, ‘The Sergeant’ is best known in his nation as an actor. He had to choose one in 2014.
“I got my nickname, ‘The Sergeant’ because, of course, I was a police sergeant for 11 years,” he told FOX Sports. “At the end of last year , after my fight in Texas they said, ‘You have to decide — police officer, or your sport.’ And they were quite sure that I would choose the police job because it is a safe job. Your family is secure for the rest of your life.
“But, I chose the UFC. I quit my job. I am not a police officer anymore. But, I am still ‘The Sergeant.’ I’m the sergeant for the people. So, better watch out. If I catch you doing something, you know, I’m going to bust you!”
