Paddy Pimblett has revealed the mental health struggles he suffered from early on in his career, with the UFC star revealing that he thought about suicide following a defeat in Liverpool.
The former Cage Warriors star has risen to prominence in the last year and will be the co-main event at this weekend's UFC 282 in Las Vegas as he fights against Jared Gordon. The lightweight, 27, will be hoping that the fight can give him a platform for further success in the future and a potential UFC title.
However, the star has also used his position to become an advocate for mental health awareness, with his speech in the wake of his UFC London win back in August a powerful message following the death of a friend in the build-up to the fight. This week, the fighter known as 'The Baddy' has opened up on his own struggles as well as what he went through ahead of his win against Jordan Leavitt back in July.
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Speaking ITV, he revealed the struggles he had following a defeat in his home city at the Echo Arena: "You know, I was so ashamed and embarrassed. I didn't leave the house for weeks. I did think about suicide.
"I was crying every morning. But because of who I am and what to do, I didn't think I could speak to anyone about it. I just bottled it up and it got worse and worse and worse."
Pimblett also revealed the support he received from friends and family as well as the Next Gen Gym in Liverpool which helped him through the difficult times, reinforcing his message that it's always best to speak out when it comes to mental health.
"So I spoke to my coaches at the Next Gen Gym, spoke to my mates and my fiancee. And, when I woke up the next morning, I didn't cry.
"A problem shared is a problem halved and that's a fact. As soon as you speak to someone about it and they give you a bit of reassurance and a bit of guidance, it just feels completely different."
The awareness which Pimblett has raised in the conversation with regards to mental health awareness has been huge, with the heartbreaking speech he gave at UFC London regarding the death of a friend in the build-up to the fight gong viral earlier this year.
Speaking about that fight and the impact the news had on him, Pimblett said: "Finding out what he'd done, literally hours before, was heavy," he explained. "I went into that fight with a heavy heart. You could see I didn't really go into that fight with a plan. I was just trying to take his head off because it was in the back of my mind.
"Before I walked out I was nearly crying, standing in the back."
Pimblett has this week revealed a new charity, The Baddy Foundation, aimed at supporting those who are struggling with mental health as well as helping hungry children. In the launch, made on his Instagram page earlier this week, he said: "It’s my pleasure to announce that The Baddy Foundation is now live! After mentioning it in my march post fight interview everyone has been asking me about it thinking I’m all talk and no action.
"Well it’s taken a lot of work behind the scenes from my team in Liverpool & Hollywood and mainly my manager @graham_boylan but it’s finally here and I’ll be helping everyone I can with The Baddy Foundation.
"Helping to feed kids who are struggling to be fed and eating from food banks and to help men with mental health issues to start talking and finally break this stigma that I’ve been talking about recently and help prevent so many suicides which is such an epidemic at the minute.
"If you can donate just $1 it will help me to make change possible. Any companies wanting to partner speak to Graham."
To make a donation, visit https://thebaddy.com/the-baddy-foundation/.
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