Paddy Pimblett has opened up on his mental health struggles ahead of UFC 304, admitting that he was thinking about pulling out of this weekend's card in Manchester.
The 29-year-old, who will face Bobby Green in a much-anticipated lightweight contest on Saturday, made headlines in 2022 after he delivered a powerful post-fight speech about mental health.
After recording a submission win over Jordan Leavitt at UFC London, an emotional Pimblett revealed that he had lost a dear friend to suicide in the lead up to the fight.
His words were heard around the world and as a result, the Huyton-born fighter saved lives. In fact, Paddy was close to tears after being thanked by a fan for saving his life.
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Now, the Liverpudlian has opened up about his mental health again as he prepares to fight Green at Co-op Live.
"About five or six weeks ago my coach was thinking about pulling me out. Mentally I just wasn't there," Pimblett said.
"I'm in the shape of my life, and I'm peaking just at the right time. Everything feels absolutely brilliant in camp.
"It's mad because five weeks ago I was thinking: 'This is the worst camp of my life, what's going on here?'
"A few things went wrong, and even a couple of weeks ago a few things personally were getting me down. A bit of depression.
"But I've got that attitude and that positivity that I can turn it around. You know my confidence, so when my coach talked about pulling me out, I was like: 'No chance'".
He added: "I've always got a lot going on. Whenever I start feeling negative and getting down, that's when I get a bit of depression.
"Mentally, that side of things, it's hard. I wasn't in the best place five weeks ago. I actually messaged the place where I go to have a bit of counselling, and messaged the woman I go and see and said: 'Can I come and see you?' Just to have a little chat and feel better.
"I need to share this, because other people don't.
"When I mentioned this two years ago, there was a surge in calls to the Samaritans and 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.
"Just before I started camp about three months ago, another young MMA fighter who is from the north, he killed himself and he's younger than me.
"It's becoming an epidemic again. I'd rather people talk than take their own life. Because once you take your life, it's done. It's over. But if you talk to someone and get it off your chest, you live to fight another day as they say."
As the interview picked up traction on social media, Pimblett received a number of vile messages from people on social media.
Speaking at the UFC 304 media day on Wednesday, he said: "Some of the responses to it are f****** disgusting. People just saying I’m doing it for PR.
"Why would I invite pressure on myself like that? It’s mad. I know people who have killed themselves and I’ve thought about it in the past.
"I do it because I feel I need to, and I don’t want more people to kill themselves. Especially men, they don’t talk to people and they kill themselves.
"Some of the responses to me saying that, ‘You might as well kill yourself’. Other people have been saying, ‘No wonder men don’t talk."
Topics: Paddy Pimblett, UFC, MMA
Jack Kenmare