Sean Pierson has had two lifelong dreams come true recently. He won his UFC debut over Matt Riddle, and he was hired by the Toronto Police Department. Now, he is being asked to choose between the two.
According to the Toronto Star, Pierson supposed to start work with the police force just days after winning a unanimous decision at UFC 124. Instead, he was told to turn in his uniform and stay away from the police force until they investigate. A police rep said that all officers must clear secondary employment.
“I can appreciate the position they’re in with what I do,” said Pierson. “I don’t look at mixed martial arts as a negative, but I think the mainstream still looks at us as a bit of a black eye.”
MMA hasn't had an easy time becoming accepted in Toronto, which also may explain the TPD's reluctance to allow Pierson to fight while serving and protecting. Despite the overwhelming popularity of MMA in Canada, the sport was only legalized in Ontario in August. Some news outlets are still not warm to the sport. The UFC will host their first event in Toronto on April 30, 2011.
Given the long layoff that can happen between fights, it's not odd for a fighter to have another job.Pierson is far from the only civil servant who moonlights as a fighter. Welterweight Chris Lytle is a firefighter in Indianapolis, while fellow welterweight Paulo Thiago serves on Brasilia, Brazil police department's special forces. Hopefully, the Toronto Police Department will be able to see the positives of having a well-trained mixed martial artist on their side and look past any stereotypes about the sport.
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