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Illegal migrant reveals: 'I'm a professional fighter' in extraordinary interview with GB News

New Dispatch Published Jul 16, 2026 Reviewed Jul 17, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors
Jalil Ahmad, a small boat migrant, arrived in the UK 15 or 16 days before his interview with GB News, after first spending a night in London.
15 days · time since arrival in the UK for Jalil Ahmad
The Crowborough migrant camp, which houses 350 so-called asylum seekers in former military barracks, has been the site of frequent protests by groups such as Crowborough Shield.
350 people · asylum seekers housed at the Crowborough migrant camp
Jalil Ahmad, an asylum seeker, said the Home Office informed him he would stay at the Crowborough camp for three months before being moved into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO).
3 months · planned duration of stay at the Crowborough camp for Jalil Ahmad
Jalil Ahmad, a trained professional MMA fighter, stated he chose to illegally enter the UK because he believes it offers opportunities to improve his fighting career, including competing in the UFC.
1 professional fight · recorded professional MMA fights of Jalil Ahmad

An illegal migrant in Crowborough has revealed he is a professional fighter in an interview with GB News.

Jalil Ahmad, a small boat migrant, told The People's Channel about his journey from Afghanistan to Britain.

Mr Ahmad said he arrived in the UK 15 or 16 days ago, first spending a night in London.

He told GB News: "When we reached the river of the England, the England police come and get us.

"We went to London in a hotel, and it was about one or two weeks in that place, and it's a few weeks that we are in this camp."

The Crowborough migrant camp, which houses 350 so-called asylum seekers in former military barracks, has been home to frequent protests from groups such as Crowborough Shield.

The asylum seeker admitted some locals "don't like us", but claimed the majority of residents were appreciative of their newfound neighbours.

"All the people are really good people. We appreciate them. We appreciate... the Government of UK. And we are very happy that now we are here," he said.

The Crowborough asylum seeker told GB News he first walked from "Afghanistan to Iran and Iran to Turkey", adding that he "talked with someone" to allow him to enter to France.

He spent "three or four days" in France, before taking a small boat to become one of over 12,000 migrants to cross the Channel to Britain's shores this year.

The migrant also told GB News why his "first decision" was to illegally enter Britain, despite passing through a safe country.

He said: "The UK Government is a good Government and the language is very good.

"It's English. English is an international language. And also I'm a professional MMA fighter and it's in this country.

"I have lots of chances to improve myself and improve my abilities."

Mr Ahmad has had one professional fight on record, a victory in an Iranian fight promotion, and told GB News he intends to compete in the UFC in the future.

The trained fighter migrant said the Home Office told him he would be in the Crowborough camp for three months - before being moved into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO).

Asked how relations were within the former army barracks, he told GB News that "lots of my friends and family" lived at Crowborough.

The asylum seeker also gave a final message to GB News viewers.

"Some people come here and do good things. They study. They do trainings. They do good works. These are good people. And some of the people they are not the good people," he said.

"And it's like the whole world is like a jungle. Some people are good, some people are bad, and we cannot judge everyone. We must judge everyone personally."

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