Paddy Pimblett has vowed to dedicate his UFC London fight to four-year-old Baby Lee Hodgson who tragically passed away last month.
Lee lost his fight with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, an extremely rare and aggressive cancer. Lee's parents, Josh Hodgson and Kiesha Murphy, became concerned about their son's health when he developed a cough in 2020, later being diagnosed with stage four metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma that year.
The courageous youngster faced several trips to and from hospital, being given just a five to 10 per cent chance of survival by doctors. Refusing to give up the fight for their son, Lee's parents and their local community came together to fundraise for private treatment for the youngster.
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UFC star Pimblett met Lee through social media and later invited the youngster to his Next Generation gym in Liverpool. 'The Baddy' labelled Lee as "a bigger fighter than he'll ever be" and also visited his house to spend time with him and his parents. Lee and his family were backstage for the ceremonial weigh-ins before Pimblett's last fight at UFC London, in which he won by first-round submission.
'The Baddy' has promised to do Lee proud in his fight this Saturday against Jordan Leavitt at The O2 arena in London, insisting the youngster will be by his side every step of the way. "It’s heartbreaking, it kills you how a kid that age can go. You’ve got 98-year-olds still alive... then there’s a four-year-old like that," he said.
"If he was a billionaire’s son he would have probably been saved, but because he’s just a kid from Liverpool nobody is a****. I know full well that he’s going to be in there with me on Saturday. That’s why Jordan Leavitt can’t hurt me, I know he’s going to be in there with me and I’m going to proper hurt him for Baby Lee.”
Pimblett issued a heartfelt tribute to his "little mate" Lee last month, writing: "Still can’t believe the devastating news about my little mate. The biggest warrior I’ve ever met in my life past away early hours this morning after a long hard fought battle with his illness. All my thoughts going out to Josh and Keisha and their whole family, you are all stronger than you’ll ever know. Love you mate, I know you’ll be in there with me forever when I get in the cage."
