- Paddy Pimblett took the opportunity to tell his fellow lads to talk about mental health issues
- “The Baddy” improved his unbeaten UFC record by submitting Jordan Leavitt at UFC London
If there’s something different about Paddy Pimblett in his latest fight, that would be the level of his focus as he couldn’t stop thinking about his friend who committed suicide hours before his fight with Jordan Leavitt at UFC London.
Despite learning about the bad news, “The Baddy” still put on quite a performance and submitted Leavitt via a rear-naked choke in the second round to improve his unbeaten UFC record to 3-0.
PADDY PIMBLETT GETS THE FINISH!!! #UFCLONDON pic.twitter.com/CvC36djzlI
— UFC (@ufc) July 23, 2022
Speak up fellas
During a backstage interview with ESPN, Pimblett broke the news and urged his fellow men to talk about their problems, especially mental health issues.
“I had some horrible news the other day,” Pimblett revealed. “Five hours before weigh-in, I woke up and found out one of my mates had killed himself. It’s been a hard week, to be honest. It’s been a really hard week – not just with the fight and the weight cut. I’ve had so many other things.”
“I just wish lads would talk more,” he continued. “You know, women speak to each other all the time if you’ve got something. Lads don’t. They sit there and bottle it up, and they end up taking their own lives, and that’s something you can’t take back. Men just need to talk more. they just need to get it off their chest.”
Still good even on a bad day
As expected, Pimblett boasted that though there was something sad and negative going on in his mind during the fight, he was sure he’d still get the better of his opponent and that’s what he did at UFC London.
“Obviously, I know how good I am and on any given day,” Pimblett pointed out. “I can beat anyone – anyone in the rankings. It doesn’t matter. I can beat anyone, even on a bad day like today, I still done it. I still got in there and dominated him. Well, I didn’t dominate him at the start, but still think I won the first round, and then I got the finish in the second.”
For sure, Pimblett’s win will put him in a better spot. If he’s not headlining an event next, we might see him break into the lightweight division’s top 15 this week.
