When Paddy Pimblett fought and won against fan favorite Tony Ferguson, it was a moment to remember him. However, the happiness of this win was soon overshadowed by the dark cloud of hate and bullying from MMA fans. This eventually led to one of the worst times of Pimblett’s life.
Pimblett’s road to the UFC 304 Octagon was nearly derailed by an unexpected opponent – depression. The charismatic Liverpudlian, known for his infectious smile and brash confidence, recently revealed a darker side to his fight preparation. Just five weeks ago, the fighter with the moniker ‘The Baddy’ was on the brink of withdrawing from his highly anticipated bout against Bobby Green.
“About five or six weeks ago, my coach was thinking about pulling me out [of the fight]. Mentally, I wasn’t there. I said a couple of weeks ago, ‘This is gonna be the worst fight camp of my life.’ And up until two or three weeks ago, it was,” Pimblett said via Sky Sports.
Pimbbell’s mental state was so fragile that his team feared for his well-being. Even the lightweight contender’s coach considered pulling him from the fight. But true to his fighting spirit, ‘The Baddy‘ refused to throw in the towel as he declared that there was no possibility of withdrawal.
His resilience shone through as he spoke about overcoming this mental hurdle. It’s a reminder that even the toughest fighters battle unseen opponents. Depression doesn’t discriminate, not even against rising UFC stars.
Paddy Pimblett Urges Men To Start Talking After Friend’s Suicide
MMA is a sport where bravado and machismo often take center stage. But Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett has thrown a surprising hook at societal expectations. The Liverpool-born UFC fighter recently used his platform to tackle a subject far more challenging than any opponent he’s faced in the octagon: men’s mental health.
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A sweaty, victorious Pimblett, fresh from submitting Jordan Leavitt at UFC London, grabbed the microphone. But instead of the usual post-fight bravado, he delivered a heartfelt plea that left the crowd stunned. He said in his post-fight interview,
“I woke up on Friday morning at 4 am to a message that one of my friends back home had killed himself. This was five hours before my weigh-in…Listen, if you’re a man and you’ve got weight on your shoulders and you think the only way you can solve it is by killing yourself, please speak to someone, speak to anyone.“
“People would rather… I know I’d rather have my mate cry on my shoulder than go to his funeral next week. So please, let’s get rid of this stigma, and men, start talking,” Pimblett added.
Pimblett’s raw vulnerability was a breath of fresh air in a world full of ‘alpha’ expectations from men. It’s not every day you see a professional fighter choking up in front of thousands, but then again, Pimblett has never been one to follow the crowd. It’s a powerful message from a man who makes a living by being tough. With this message, he may have saved many lives that were on the verge of snuffing themselves out.
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