UFC fighter Nick Ring is being considered a hometown hero after thwarting a mugging of a couple by 10 youths in his native Calgary. Ring chased down the youths as the authorities were able to arrest most of the assailants.
The good deed occurred Wednesday night after Ring went to a yoga class.
According to the UFC press release:
Ring watched the group steal the girl’s backpack and run off, leaving the victims hysterical and bleeding with cuts on their faces.
Quick to act, Ring, a 33-year-old mixed martial artist who is preparing for UFC 149 in Calgary July 21, along with a “perfect stranger”, checked on the victims and then the pair chased the assaulters about 3-4 blocks.
“It was a random act, but from what I saw, it was very violent. I have no tolerance for that type of behaviour and I had to even out the playing field.”
Ring and the other witness ran after the assailants, eventually pinning down one of the young men and calling the police. The other young adults pleaded with them to let them go but eventually took off.
Ring then chased them as well, so the police knew where they were, and the authorities ended up catching them from there.
Ring was not able to speak to the victims after the fact as they were rushed to the hospital by ambulance.
“It was a brutal assault. Hands down it was a horrible thing to witness. There was no way it was justified.”
Ring said the suspects did not know who he was or his fighting background. But one of the suspects did challenge him to a one-on-one fight before being arrested. Three members of the group were arrested and charged with assault. Police continue to search for the remaining assailants.
When asked about fighting crime or fighting in the Octagon, Nick said, “The men the police have to face have no honour. I would way rather be an MMA fighter because the men I fight have honour. These guys were just straight up cowards.”
Payout Perspective:
In the past, I had made fun of the “Promise” nickname for Ring but I will stop after this. I think its funny that he had just got out of yoga and the press release says he was at a Starbucks at the time. Of course he was ready to chase down some youths, he was stretched out and hopped on caffeine. A joke for Friday.
With some of its employees independent contractors getting into legal troubles recently, the UFC capitalizes on some good news with the press release. It helps that Ring, a native of Calgary, will be competing at UFC 149 in Calgary in July. This is certainly something to be proud of and Ring will have a few more fans rooting for him in July.
Like the use of the “independent contractors” term. There has been a small push in the media recently for the UFC to institute a Code of Conduct policy, but doesn’t their status as “independent contractors” preclude this sort of thing?
I though Ring come off as being very lame. I mean he did what he should have done. But it seems silly to brag or take credit or make a big deal about it. However you look at it. People are trying to say he is some here and you hear him say details like “they were wearing book bags” and some fo the group were female. Basically Ring broke up a fight between a bunch of kids. The media is making it out like he took out a killer or a bank robber or something. I ran a bunch (3) of 12 year olds off the parking lot of my business yesterday. Hardly news worthy. If you stop a adult commiting a real crime fine. When you break up a fght between kids dont expect a medal. Hell i wouldnt even talk to the media about ti. No way to come off in a good light. If these kids were even big high school kids they would have tried to fight him since he isnt a big guy. They all ran likely because they were not angerous hardened criminals they ar emade out to be. Likely a group of pip squeeks who were 150 lbs. half of which were girls.
@MV – Not really in my opinion It just means they don’t have much bargaining power. Whether it be a contract for 1, 2 or 6 fights, the UFC could include a Code of Conduct policy included in the contract. Now, if they were employees, there would be a much more concerted effort to collaborate on an agreed Code of Conduct. But that would mean the “U” word.
@BSmash – You could be very well right about what may have happened. I think the UFC jumped on this to get press in Calgary for the upcoming PPV. Plus, with Celeste and Jones being arrested recently, its good to get someone in the UFC on the right side of the law.
It was a good idea to get press maybe but i just feel when by his admission there was girls and kids wearing backpacks it should have been handles differently than what it was. Ring is calling them wanna be tough guys and they are acting like he risked his life here. A simple “i tried to help these people who were attacked by a bunch of kids or teenagers” would have been fine. Making the comment that they think they are tougher than they really are and how he chased them down and restrained them only makes him look like he is playing up the situation. Most people are going to have those details stick out to them and really think he is a tool.
There have been lots of fighters take on scumbags who were legit threats and the fighter was in danger. fron Hardonk, Vera, and Jones to name a few. They were in real danger and they didnt even play it up like Ring is doing. If the media does it so be it. But he can tone it down a little and not come off like he is buying into him just saving the world.
I’m not sure how much Ring is playing it up and how much the media is playing it up. Nick did what he did, and the media/UFC jumped on it. I wouldn’t say Nick is coming off as being lame, but it all may be just a bit overblown. On the other hand, it does sound like it was a violent assault, so even if it’s a bunch of kids or “young men” as the article puts it, there’s certainly an element of danger that makes the story compelling.
I live in New York and kids commit violent crimes all the time. A pregnant lady recently got beat up by a bunch of high school girls because she bumped into one of them. I wouldn’t have minded if Rousey had been there to execute a few hip-throws and put a stop to it, even if it was just kids.
If it was as brutal as he says then I think it would have been best to leave out unimportant details such as them wearing bookbags and some being girls. When he mentions that stuff the general public gets an imagine of a professional fighter beating up a few kids waiting for a school bus. It doesn’t sit well. I just think it would have been smart to leave that out and also not say they are not as tough as they think. Could have done without that comment too. But no doubt he did the right thing.