Paddy Pimblett, a rising star in the UFC lightweight division, has faced numerous challenges in the lead-up to what he describes as the biggest fight of his career at UFC 304. Despite a turbulent start to his training camp, Pimblett, 29, managed to turn things around, crediting his coach, Paul Rimmer, for helping him course-correct.
“I knew there was stuff going on externally and stuff going on in my head,” Pimblett said during UFC 304 media day. “Obviously when Paul [Rimmer] said it to me, I was upset. I was not happy with him. I was angry. But obviously he’s my coach, he’s like my second dad. He’s only looking out for my best interests. But since that moment, I’ve had one of the best camps I’ve ever had a couple of weeks out.”
Reflecting on the rocky period in his training, Pimblett admitted to serious doubts about his performance potential. “Four, five, six weeks out, I was thinking, ‘Oh my God, this is the worst camp of my life and I’m going into arguably my toughest fight.’ But then the last couple of weeks has just been quality and I’m looking forward to getting into the octagon again and beating this idiot [King Green] up.”
Pimblett, known for his candid discussions about mental health, has been vocal in his advocacy, encouraging others to seek help. His own struggles intensified following the tragic suicide of a close friend, prompting him to confront his personal issues.
“Obviously getting it off my chest helps, but like it was Ricky’s anniversary [of his death] two days ago,” Pimblett shared. “Been thinking about it a lot more. It’s been bad again lately. Another lad in Liverpool killed himself a couple of weeks ago. A young MMA fighter, Connor Hitchens, killed himself like three months ago, and he’s younger than me. I just feel like it needs talking about.”
While Pimblett hopes his openness aids others, he was disheartened by the negative backlash he received after a recent interview. The comments were particularly harsh in light of his efforts to shed light on the importance of mental health.
As Pimblett steps into the octagon on Saturday, his journey serves as a testament to resilience and the critical need for ongoing dialogue about mental well-being.
