Overshadowed by UFC Stockholm headliner Alexander Gustafsson retiring, Nick Hein also retired following a loss in Sweden. After losing via TKO in the second round to Frank Camacho, Hein would retire. However he wouldn’t announce until the following day, and he did so on social media. Hein made the announcement on Facebook, saying:

“20 years of Judo. Ten years in the national team. One decade of MMA, 5 years in the UFC. I am ready for the next chapter. Thanks to everyone. I am looking for the future.”

https://www.facebook.com/NickHeinMMA/photos/a.738541516232191/2267379706681690/?type=3&theater

Hein ended his career on an unfortunate note, losing his last three fights to Frank Camacho, Damir Hadžović, and Davi Ramos. However, prior to his current three-fight skid, he was on a three-fight winning streak, last defeating Tae Hyun Bang in Germany in 2016. This would be Bang’s last fight prior to being arrested for fight-fixing for his 2016 bout with Leo Kuntz.

Despite ending his career on a sour note, Hein still finished his career with a 14-5 professional record. He was an accomplished judoka, being the German national champion in 2006 and 2007, however, transitioned to MMA after a failed Olympics bid in 2008. Outside of MMA, Hein is an actor and police officer in Germany. Hein is also an author, releasing the book “Polizei am Limit” in 2016.

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Frank Camacho steps into UFC Stockholm replacing Luigi Vendramini. Camacho is a brawler to the core, earning three Fight of the Night bonuses in his first three fights in the Octagon. His last one was not as back and forth, as he fell to Geoff Neal via head kick. Camacho is 1-3 in the UFC and came into the promotion at 20-4.

Nick Hein has been in the UFC since 2014 and is 4-3 with the promotion. The German defeated Drew Dober in his debut then lost to James Vick before rattling off three consecutive victories. Hein was supposed to fight Zabit Magomedsharipov in 2017, but pulled out due to injury and did not fight that year. He returned to the Octagon last year, losing to both Davi Ramos and Damir Hadzovic.

Round one began with pressure from Camacho, but it was a solid barrage of strikes from the southpaw Hein, which included a straight left hand that allowed the German to secure an early take down. Camacho would get to his feet quickly and continue to apply more movement forward throughout the rest of the round, including a flying knee attempt that was blocked by Hein.

The second round, just as the first, commenced with non-stop forward pressure from Camacho, and Hein’s punch output began to slow down with less frequent strikes being thrown towards his opponent. As the round continued it became evident that the gameplan of Camacho was proving to be the difference and Hein had fewer answers. With less than a minute in the round “The Crank” sensed there would not be a response from Hein and began to pick up his output with a flurry of strikes with Hein covering up with no answer on the cage. Hein refused to go down but referee Leon Roberts had seen enough and stopped the fight with five seconds remaining in round two.

Poured it on!@CrankEffect gets the win here at #UFCStockholm. pic.twitter.com/qOOSWJeLy0

— UFC (@ufc) June 1, 2019

Camcho ends his two-fight losing skid and picks up his first win in his return to lightweight.

Frank Camacho def. Nick Hein via TKO (strikes), Round 2, 4:55

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Capping off the televised preliminary portion of Sunday’s UFC Hamburg (UFC Fight Night 134), Germany’s own Nick Hein took on Damir Hadžović at lightweight. Hein had compiled a 4-2 record in the UFC since his debut 2014. Coming into Hamburg off a loss to Davi Ramos at UFC 224, Hein was looking to get back to his winning ways — he’d won three straight prior to that.

Hadzovic, meanwhile, was 1-2 in the promotion, his lone win coming against leg lock specialist Marcin Held. Most recently, the Bosnian-Dutch fighter had dropped a decision to Alan Patrick.

After a minute or so of feeling out, Nick Hein got his hands going, throwing an overhand right, and firing off two-punch combos. Hadzovic answered with a leg kick. A bit of back and forth early, as the pair looked to find their groove. Hein touched his opponent’s cheek with a right. Another right touched the body. Hadzovic was showing some damage by the eye thanks to Hein’s jab; as they went to the second, Hein seemed to have the edge.

Hein continued to go to work in round two, backing Hadzovic up, and continuing to throw his jab with effect. He backed his opponent up, launching an overhand right that looked like it could be a knockout blow if it ever connected clean. He wouldn’t manage to land the knockout, though, but kept attacking, bullying Hadzovic for the better part of the frame. Hadzovic’s jab, however, had gotten going, and Hein was showing the results on his face.

A big left hand from Nick Hein knocked Hadzovic off-kilter to open round three. Hein, however, ate a face kick by Hadzovic inside the first minute, a kick that clearly got his attention. It was Hein, however, pressing forward following that blow. Then, near the halfway point, a huge right hand for Hadzovic! He dropped Hein, and jumped on his back, but Hein managed to escape to his feet! Hadzovic moved forward, and Hein beckoned him to bring it!

Caught him! @DamirHadzo #UFCHamburg pic.twitter.com/bvEKq75VM0

— UFC (@ufc) July 22, 2018

Hein was now bloodied, but continued to chuck out his overhand right. The knockdown had certainly cost him the round, and depending on how the earlier frames were scored, Hadzovic could have the edge. They’d go the distance, with Hadzovic getting the nod on two scorecards.

Damir Hadzovic def. Nick Hein by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

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In lightweight action at Saturday’s UFC 224 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Davi Ramos welcomed Nick Hein to the South American nation. Both men entered the contest off wins, but in a stacked 155lb division, every win is of the utmost importance.

Early in the first round of Ramos vs. Hein, the pair did a bit of feeling out, then Hein connected with a left over the top, sending Ramos to the ground. However, with Ramos laying back in guard, Hein decided to think better of following him to the ground. Instead, Ramos was allowed back to his feet, where he immediately connected with a high kick.

Despite Hein wanting nothing to do with the ground game of Ramos, he was soon on the canvas regardless, with Ramos going to work with his high-level jiu-jitsu.

👌Don't Sweat The Technique 🥋#UFC224 pic.twitter.com/QU0i0nFFBY

— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) May 13, 2018

Ramos transitioned to the back, sinking in a body triangle with over a minute remaining. He then worked towards a rear-naked choke, eventually sinking in more of a neck crank, not even under the chin. It didn’t matter. Ramos had enough to force the tap, earning the first round submission win!

Davi Ramos def. Nick Hein by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 4:15

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