Warning: This article contains a reference to suicide.
Paddy Pimblett has expressed outrage over the “disgusting” responses he has received on social media after encouraging men to speak openly about their mental health. The 29-year-old UFC fighter from Liverpool recently revealed he had been dealing with personal issues while enduring “the worst training camp of his life” six weeks ago, which prompted him to seek help that ultimately changed his mindset.
Pimblett is set to face American lightweight Bobby Green at UFC 304 in Manchester on Saturday.
Reflecting on the backlash he received, Pimblett said, “Seeing Sky Sports put that interview up and seeing some of the responses are disgusting. People are saying I’m doing it for a PR stunt. Why would I invite pressure on myself like that?”
The fighter emphasized that his motivation to speak out comes from personal experience. “People say I’m only doing it for attention, but I know several people who have taken their own lives, and I’ve thought about it myself in the past. I speak out because I feel like I need to, and I don’t want more people, especially men, to take their own lives.”
Pimblett first publicly addressed his mental health two years ago after losing a close friend to suicide. During an emotional moment in the octagon, he broke down in tears following his victory over Jordan Leavitt. At that time, the response was overwhelmingly positive, with many people reaching out to him for support on social media.
Recently, Pimblett experienced renewed struggles in training, which his coach, Paul Rimmer, noticed. “Paul, my coach, is like a second dad to me, always looking out for my best interests,” said Pimblett. “Since that moment, I’ve had one of the best camps I’ve ever had.”
With the help of therapy, along with support from family and close friends, Pimblett turned his training camp around. “A couple of weeks ago, I reached out to a mental health charity for men to talk and work through my feelings—and I did. Now, I’m ready for anything.”
Pimblett credited his wife, Laura, and his circle of family and friends for his resilience. “I wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for my wife, Laura. My family, my team, and my mates have all been incredible. When that Sky interview came out, I got six messages from my mates and boys I grew up with. I feel good again.”
Aspinall Finds Peace Without Social Media
Echoing Pimblett’s comments, British UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has deleted social media in preparation for his fight against American Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304, citing the negative effects it had on his life.
The 31-year-old is set to defend his title in the co-main event at the Co-op Live arena, headlined by the welterweight title bout between British champion Leon Edwards and American Belal Muhammad.
Aspinall admitted that he became “addicted” to scrolling and reading comments from fans. “To anyone feeling overwhelmed or anxious, I highly recommend doing what I did and deleting social media apps,” he advised. “I was addicted to scrolling, and my life is much better without reading hundreds of opinions about me every day. It’s a mistake and an addiction like anything else.”
Aspinall, who continues to post on social media through a team member, said he would likely never reinstall the apps on his phone full-time. “I’m much happier without social media, and I won’t be going back to it after the fight,” he said. “I might download it here and there, but I’ll never have it on my phone full-time.”
Credit: BBC Sport
