Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett has opened up on his mental health struggles during his training camp for UFC 304. The Liverpudlian returns to the octagon on Saturday night as he takes on American counterpart King Green in a lightweight bout at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.
However, he’s now revealed that there was a possibility that he withdrew from the fight after enduring ‘the worst camp of my life’. In an interview with Sky Sports, Pimblett said: “About five or six weeks ago my coach was thinking about pulling me out. Mentally I just wasn’t there.”
Despite being in the “shape of my life” and peaking at the right time, Pimblett admitted that a few weeks ago, he was struggling with depression. “A few things went wrong, and even a couple of weeks ago a few things personally were getting me down. A bit of depression.”
Reflecting on his emotional post-fight speech at UFC London last year, where he opened up about men’s mental health, Pimblett said: “When I mentioned this two years ago, there was a surge in calls to the Samaritans and people speaking up. Lately, there’s a lad in Liverpool, who wasn’t my mate but I’d met him before – he killed himself about six weeks ago.”
What Pimblett might not be realizing is that he’s destroying his own mental health with his diet.
Rapid weight loss often results from restrictive diets, which can lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients. These deficiencies can weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to infections, including overgrowth of Candida, a type of yeast normally present in small amounts in the intestines.
Candida overgrowth can cause inflammation in the gut. This inflammation can affect the gut-brain axis, a communication network that links the gut and the brain. Chronic inflammation is associated with mood disorders, including depression.
Candida overgrowth can impair the absorption of essential nutrients, including B vitamins and magnesium, which are crucial for mental health. Deficiencies in these nutrients can lead to symptoms of depression.
Pimblett, who has a 21-3-0 record, has also had a lot on his plate in recent months, including the birth of his twin girls Betsy and Margot in April. Despite the challenges, the UFC star remained determined to compete at UFC 304, telling his coach: “No chance” when he mentioned pulling him out of the fight.
Pimblett’s openness about his mental health struggles and his desire to destigmatize the issue continue to make him an inspiring figure in the world of mixed martial arts.
