LAS VEGAS – Jared Gordon understands there are variations between himself and Paddy Pimblett. Many are apparent.
For one, Pimblett (19-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has sky-high reputation only a few fights into his UFC tenure, whereas Gordon (19-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) has quietly floor out 11 UFC fights. UFC 282 will mark No. 12.
International locations of origin issue closely into the equation, Gordon advised MMA Junkie and different reporters at a pre-fight information convention Wednesday.
“(It’s) as a result of I’m from America,” Gordon mentioned. “He’s from Liverpool and he has a complete metropolis behind him. The People are People. They prefer to tear down their athletes. There are such a lot of of us. So who’re they going to get behind? You see guys come from completely different nations. Take a look at Conor. The man had a complete nation behind him. Khabib, he’s bought Russia behind him. ‘Oh, you’re from New York? Go F your self.’”
Variations exist, however the similarities shine brighter to Gordon. For years, Gordon has used his rising platform to spotlight his battles with drug habit and psychological well being.
In July, Pimblett echoed an analogous message when he gave what’s broadly considered one of the most powerful and impactful post-fight speeches ever, following his buddy’s suicide.
Pimblett not too long ago launched a charity – one thing Gordon proposed in October across the time of their UFC 282 fight booking.
“I had mentioned that for that purpose, perhaps we may try this collectively,” Gordon mentioned. “Nothing got here of it. However that doesn’t imply one thing can’t occur sooner or later. I believe that even pre-UFC, I keep in mind listening to him on The MMA Hour… that he handled psychological well being points and stuff like that. That’s after I began liking him. With the assist that we each have and the individuals we now have round us, that we may do one thing and why not, proper? And we are able to entertain individuals within the course of.”
Over the previous decade, via the eras of Conor McGregor and past, negativity and trash discuss has fueled the enterprise within the battle sport. Maybe in a swim towards the tide, Gordon thinks he and Pimblett can seize the eye of the lots via positivity and help.
“I see guys on a regular basis saying sure issues to one another, utilizing sure phrases, being robust guys,” Gordon mentioned. “Like, should you have been actually a felony, you wouldn’t be right here. You’d be on the market extorting individuals and promoting medicine and killing individuals. I hear individuals name one another sure phrases and it’s like the place I’ve been and the place I’m from, these phrases, these aren’t fist-fighting phrases. These are, ‘I’m going to stab you in your again once you’re not watching,’ phrases. You may inform sure individuals haven’t been to jail. A few of our superstars, they’ve by no means been to jail. They haven’t shared a cell with another person that they don’t know who comes from a horrible place.”
Along with his openness and unfold of consciousness, Gordon helps out at a middle for habit remedy. He hopes to sometime open a middle of his personal and want to see different professional athletes observe go well with for the final betterment of society.
“If Lebron James was speaking about psychological well being, it’d get lots of listeners,” Gordon mentioned. “If Conor McGregor was speaking about psychological well being as an alternative of flexing within the mirror, he would get lots of listeners, proper? … It’s tremendous onerous these days. Plenty of issues are altering with insurance coverage corporations and self-pay for remedy facilities are actually costly. However that’s one thing I’d positively love to do and different issues as nicely.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 282.
