Paddy Pimblett UFC London post-fight interview sees rise in men seeking help

The number of men attending mental health clubs has rocketed over the past week following Paddy Pimblett’s emotionally charged speech following his second-round victory over Jordan Leavitt at UFC London.

As You’ll Never Walk Alone boomed out following the Liverpudlian’s triumph, Pimblett urged more men to open up when feeling down and to talk problems through. The fighter had lost a close friend to suicide during the build-up to the fight and delivered an inspirational message during his post-bout interview.

“I woke up on Friday morning at 4am to a message that one my friends back home had killed themselves. This was five hours before my weigh-in.

“There’s a stigma in this world that men can’t talk. Listen, if you’re a man and you’ve got weight on your shoulders and you think the only way you can solve it is by killing yourself, please speak to someone.”

The impact of his powerful words is already being felt after it was confirmed that there had been a big increase in the number of men attending mental health clubs in West Yorkshire.

For example, men attending Andy’s Man Club, one of the biggest men’s mental health groups in West Yorkshire, has rapidly surged with the number of first time attendees spiking.

"Please speak to someone, speak to anyone."A heartfelt, touching message from Paddy Pimblett following his victory at #UFCLondon. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/CcATCIPpSF

“Across both of the Leeds and Castleford groups, we have 69 (10 new) and 39 (9 new) who attended respectively. It just shows how much the groups are needed and how more and more men are talking if they’re struggling,” Andy Wilson of Andy’s Man Club told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

“The interview with Paddy Pimblett following his fight at the weekend can only