UFC 304 from Co-op Live in Manchester, England, is mere days away. Well into Oficial Fight Week, fighters are prepping hard for the cause. While they train their body, what of their minds? With his major fight right around the corner, rising superstar Paddy Pimblett has bravely opened up about his mental health battles.
The UFC is across the pond for its eighth pay-per-view event of the season. UFC 304 sees English top crop Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett take on King Green. Pimblett and the opponent have had quite a to-and-fro going for it as well. However, the Liverpudlian now opens up about mental struggles in order to encourage others as well.
About five or six weeks ago, me coach was thinking about pulling me out. Mentally, I just wasn’t there. I said a couple of weeks ago, ‘I think this is going to be the worst fight camp of my life’, and up until two or three weeks ago, it was…I’ve got that attitude and that positivity, where I can turn it around …So, when my coach thought about pulling me out, I was like, ‘No chance’.
Paddy Pimblett in an interview with Nik Hobbs, for Sky Sports (@SkySports) on the MMA podcast
The blockbuster fight this weekend might help thrust Pimblett into the Top 15 spot of the lightweight division. So the stakes are naturally high; the Scouser knows the turmoil of the daily grind. A father of two, he recently told MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn in a pre-fight exclusive that he is on the last legs of his current contract. So, there’s always something up at stake. In a similar segment with Bohn later, “big sister” Molly McCann iterated personal setbacks and Pimblett helping through it.
A testament to his usual lively spirit, the Englishman fended off the negative thoughts and found his emotional driver to fight. The Liverpudlian is aiming to end the stigma so that other fighters talk about mental health issues and find their true alignment to get back on track. As such, he also discussed the pointer on this particular topic.
Paddy Pimblett reveals why he chose to speak out about depression
In a sport like MMA, few are willing to talk about how they feel deep inside. Characterized by the physicality in combat sports, fewer even recognize it. When asked why he shared such an intimate part of his life. Pimblett’s answer was simple: Helping others get better so they can enjoy life more fully.
UFC 304 star Paddy Pimblett makes a bid to encourage others to open up (Source: boxemag.com)Even top standouts like Paddy Pimblett (21-3 MMA, 5-0 UFC) may have a hard time seeking or navigating forward. Even UFC 304’s Nathaniel Wood only recently embraced anti-anxiety help for intrusive thoughts and headaches. He said as much on MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”
Pimblett insisted that five weeks ago, before camp against Green, he sought help and got a “little bit of counseling” to regain his footing. He wishes others would do so as well.
I need to share this because other people don’t…I’m probably going to mention it again in the cage after I win. When I talked about it in the octagon two years ago, Andy’s Man Club, James’ Place, The Samaritans said they got ‘surging calls of people speaking up’… Lately, there’s a lad in Liverpool, who wasn’t my mate but I’d met him before – he killed himself about six weeks ago…
Paddy Pimblett further said to Sky Sports (@SkySports) on the MMA podcast
The 29-year-old said that yet another MMA fighter, a northerner, killed himself about three months ago when camp started. ‘Baddy’ hopes people would rather open up when finding themselves at a stalemate. Following his victory over Jordan Leavitt at UFC Fight Night 208 at the O2 Arena in July, Pimblett encouraged people to talk about their mental health concerns. He’d rather a friend talk to him now than go to his funeral later.
While much of his UFC 304 camp has been spent in banters with Green, he feels responsible. With quite a following and a bit of a platform, Paddy Pimblett feels he ought to spread awareness about battling mental health struggles.
