Paddy Pimblett breaks silence on mental health after cushing setbacks after losing two crucial battles

Paddy Pimblett has risen as a superstar in the UFC, thanks to his bold demeanor and constant talking. The Liverpudlian backs up his claims with some outstanding performances in the Octagon and now finds himself fighting for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324. However, before the success, “the baddy” experienced some truly dark moments in his life.

Pimblett remains unbeaten in the UFC, although he has suffered three losses in his professional career. While setbacks are inevitable in MMA, Pimblett has disclosed that two of his losses in Cage Warriors came quickly after one another and particularly affected him. He was so disturbed by the combination of both physical suffering and losses at that period that he had to stay at a friend's place and seek therapy.

Paddy Pimblett talks about depression after two Cage Warriors defeats

“A couple of years ago, in like 2018 or 2019, I had to go sit down and actually speak to a therapist at James’ place. Well, I lost two out of three fights, and I went into both of them injured. The second one I went into with a broken hand that had just had surgery like three months earlier, and it wasn’t healed,” Pimblett told Men’s Health UK.

“Because the show was in Liverpool, I thought if I pulled out of this show, my friends would not fight on it. So I still nearly won as well and nearly choked him out in the first round. Because that hand that was broken was under his neck, and I couldn’t get a proper squeeze. And after that, I was just kept waking up every morning and crying,” he added.


Paddy Pimblett "The Baddy" made his professional MMA debut against Cameron Else at Cage Warriors 60, where Cameron Else put him in an anaconda choke just 35 seconds into the first round. Pimblett overcame that setback and continued on an incredible run. winning nine fights in a row before Nad Narimani handed him another loss at Cage Warriors 82 in 2017.

After that defeat, Paddy Pimblett recovered from that setback with a victory, but at Cage Warriors 96 in 2018, he lost to Soren Bak once more. Later on, he blamed his broken hand for the loss. Bak criticized the Englishman for leaning on the injury as an excuse, but at the time, that criticism barely mattered to Pimblett. After he lost two crucial fights, the 31-year-old believed his dream of reaching the UFC was fading, worsening his depression.

‘The Baddy’ further added, “Just thinking that my career is over. I could’ve gone to the UFC because they were already being offered to go to the UFC twice, and I never thought about it. My career is over, yeah. I have lost twice in Cage Warriors. My career is over. I’m not getting signed by the UFC.” Pimblett eventually made his UFC debut in 2021, proving that his recovery was crucial. Now, he stands on the verge of winning gold. And as the fight date approaches, the Liverpudlian’s animated personality is in full swing once again, with ‘The Baddy’ taking shots at his legendary opponent.


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