Warning: This report contains references to suicide
Paddy Pimblett gave an emotional speech after his defeat in which he urged men to talk to each other.
The UFC fighter from Huyton, Liverpool, suffered a loss against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 in Las Vegas but used his post-fight interview to talk about mental health following the death of two friends.
The 31-year-old said: “I’ve mentioned in it my post fight interviews before about men killing themselves.”
“Two lads who I know from by ours have killed themselves over the past couple of months since I last fought so again, men, speak up,” he added.
Continuing with his plea to those listening, the fighter said: “Don’t bottle your feelings up. Talk to someone. Don’t kill yourself.”
Pimblett, who was taken to hospital after the loss, has previously spoken about the pain of male suicide.
He went onto also pay tribute to Liverpool player Diego Jota and his brother Andrew who were killed in a car crash last year.
He said: “I am a Liverpool fan. I know there will be loads of Liverpool fans here.
“There is a Liverpool legend who passed away in the last few months, that’s Diego Jota and his brother Andre so I’d like to dedicate that performance to them.”
Pimblett also paid tribute to his gym friend’s mother who recently died.
He dedicated the fight to Liam Gittins whose “mum passed away a couple of months ago”.
