Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett has opened up on his mental health struggles during his training camp for UFC 304.
The Liverpudlian returns to the octagon on Saturday night as he takes on American counter-part King Green in a lightweight bout at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.
However, he’s now revealed that there was a possibility that he withdrew from the fight after enduring ‘the worst camp of my life’.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Pimblett said: ‘About five or six weeks ago my coach was thinking about pulling me out. Mentally I just wasn’t there.
‘I’m in the shape of my life, and I’m peaking just at the right time. Everything feels absolutely brilliant in camp.
Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett has opened up on his mental health struggles ahead of UFC 304
The Liverpudlian fighter makes his return to the octagon for the event on Saturday evening
‘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”.
Pimblett has been rarely shied away from discussions over mental health and, in 2022, produced an inspiring speech after his victory at UFC London.
‘People would rather… I know I would rather have my mate cry on my shoulder than go to his funeral next week. So please, let’s get rid of this stigma. Men, start talking,’ the fighter said.
Reflecting on that post-fight speech in the same interview, Pimblett continued: ‘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.
Pimblett has undergone a sensational body transformation ahead of his fight at UFC 304
In 2022, he left the Octogon in tears after an emotional speech about men’s mental health
Pimblett has had a lot on his plate in recent months – notably the birth of his twin girls Betsy and Margot back in April.
The UFC star said: ‘The day our lives changed forever [heart emoji] all worth it for yous 2 perfect little girls.’
The UFC star, 29, has a 21-3-0 record, with his last win coming over Tony Ferguson at UFC 296 in December.
In January, Pimblett named the fighters that he dislikes most in the promotion.
