Paddy Pimblett, the UFC fighter from Liverpool known for his confidence, recently shared his mental health challenges with Sky Sports before UFC 304 in Manchester.
Nicknamed ‘Paddy the Baddy’, Pimblett, known for his outspoken personality both inside and outside the ring, is set to face American Bobby Green in an upcoming lightweight bout.
In an interview on the MMA podcast, the 29-year-old revealed he experienced a period of depression that almost led to his withdrawal from the upcoming fight.
“About five or six weeks ago, my coach considered pulling me out because mentally, I wasn’t in the right place,” Pimblett admitted.
“Currently, I am in peak physical condition and timing my peak perfectly. Training camp is going exceptionally well.”
“It’s surprising because just five weeks prior, I felt it was the worst camp ever, and I was struggling. Several things went wrong, and even recently, personal issues were bringing me down, leading to a bout of depression.”
“However, my inherent positivity and resilience helped me turn things around. Despite my coach considering withdrawal, my confidence was unwavering, and I refused to back out.”
Pimblett disclosed that he sought professional help to manage his mental state and encouraged anyone facing similar difficulties to do the same.
“I often have a lot on my plate. When negativity and low moods creep in, that’s when depression starts to affect me,” he explained.
“The mental aspect is challenging. Five weeks ago, I was not in a good mental space. I reached out to my counselor and scheduled an appointment to talk and improve my well-being.”
“I feel it’s important to share my experience because many people don’t.”
“When I first spoke about this two years ago, there was a noticeable increase in calls to mental health support services and more people started speaking out. Recently, a young man from Liverpool, not a close friend but someone I knew, tragically took his own life about six weeks ago.”
“Around three months ago, just before my training camp began, another young MMA fighter from the north, younger than me, also committed suicide.”
“It feels like this issue is becoming prevalent again. I strongly believe it’s better for people to talk than to end their lives.”
“Because suicide is final, there’s no turning back. But talking to someone and sharing your burdens can give you strength to keep fighting,” he stated.
Following his victory against Jordan Leavitt at UFC Fight Night 208 in London in July 2022, Pimblett had already urged people to address mental health, saying, ‘People would rather… I know I would rather have my friend cry on my shoulder than attend his funeral next week. So, let’s eliminate the stigma. Men, especially, start talking.'”
He added, “People often commend me for my actions, but I believe I’m just doing what’s right. Anyone with a platform and followers should use it to promote such important messages.”
“Many people don’t discuss these issues enough. Since I have a platform, I feel obligated to use it for positive change.”
“I aim to raise awareness.”
If you are struggling with mental health issues or need someone to talk to, please reach out to a helpline or mental health organization for support.
Marcus Bellamy