Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett has shared an important message following his undercard bout against Jordan Leavitt at UFC London.
Speaking to his home crowd after defeating Leavitt with a second-round submission, Pimblett revealed he had learned of a friend’s suicide just hours before the weigh-ins for Sunday’s fight.
“I’m disappointed in my performance lad, that’s not me,” he said.
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“That was shit. Pardon my French, but I’m better than that… I woke up on Friday morning at 4am to a message that one of my friends back home had killed himself – this was five hours before my weigh-in – so Ricky lad that was for you.”
The 27-year-old continued, addressing the stigma that often stops men from speaking out about their mental health, calling for anyone struggling to combat toxic masculinity and seek help from their mates.
“There’s a stigma in this world that men can’t talk. Listen, if you’re a man and you’ve got a weight on your shoulders and you think the only way you can solve it is by killing yourself – please speak to someone. Speak to anyone,” he said.
“People would rather, I know I’d rather, have their mate cry on their shoulder than go to their funeral. So please, let’s get rid of this stigma and men start talking.”
Pimblett then left the octogen in tears.
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During his post-fight press conference, Pimblett urged anyone with a similar platform “to give back” to their fans by speaking out on important issues such as access to mental health support.
“As I said in the cage, I’d much rather my friend come to me and speak to me and cry on my shoulder than me having to cry as I’m carrying his coffin a week later,” he told the media.
“A split-second decision ruins lives and that’s what happened this week. People in a position like I’m in, people who have a bit of a spotlight or following, you should help people, whether it is Joe on the street or your mate.
“I’m obviously thinking about doing a men’s mental health charity because the UK doesn’t give any funding for it. It’s the biggest killer of men between 21 and 45 and no one talks about it, no one mentions it. Men just kill themselves and no one cares. We need to change it.”
If you or anyone you know needs immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
*MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78
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