With his major fight at UFC 304 just around the corner, Paddy Pimblett has bravely opened up about his mental health battle.
In a bid to encourage others to open up, the Liverpudlian has drawn back the curtain on his private life, stressing that anyone suffering should seak help.
Paddy Pimblett bravely opens up about his mental health struggles
On July 27, Paddy Pimblett will return to the cage for an eagerly-anticipated collision with King (formerly Bobby) Green inside the 23,500-seater Co-op Live in Manchester, UK.
The blockbuster fight is undeniably the Scouser’s biggest test, with a victory likely unlocking a place inside the top 15 of the lightweight rankings.
However, while the match-up has generated enormous hype, it nearly fell by the wayside, with Paddy Pimblett struggling to fend off the negative thoughts in his head.
While physical issues can take an enormous toll on a fighter, so can mental health problems, with getting to the octagon understandably proving difficult.
In a testament to his remarkable spirit, the Brit has overcome the adversity before him, battling through the trenches to make it to fight week.
He told Sky Sports: “About five or six weeks ago, my 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.”
When asked how he made it through such a difficult period, ‘The Baddy’ revealed that he simply refused to give up.
The athlete said: “I’ve got that attitude and that positivity, where I can turn it around and you know how confident I am. So, when my coach thought about pulling me out, I was like, ‘No chance’.
“You’ve got to stay confident and positive. Whenever I start feeling negative and get a bit down, that’s when I get depression and mentally, that side of things is hard.”
Paddy Pimblett reveals why he chooses to speak up about depression
In a sport like MMA, where fighters strive to earn fearsome reputations, few are willing to discuss how they’re really feeling deep inside.
Paddy Pimblett is aiming to end the stigma surrounding mental health, discussing how he sought out advice to help him cope during his toughest times.
He explained: “As I say, I wasn’t in the best place five weeks ago. I actually messaged James’ Place, where I go to get a little bit of counseling. I messaged Jane, the woman I go and see, and said, ‘Can I come and see you, just to have a little chat and feel better’.”
When asked why he chooses to share such an intimate part of his life. His answer was simple: To help other people going through a similar rough patch get better and enjoy life to the fullest.
The 29-year-old insisted: “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’.
“People always say to me, ‘It’s amazing what you’re doing’. I’m just doing my part. I think anyone in my position, who’s got a couple of followers and a platform, should be doing this.”