Paddy Pimblett, an MMA fighter, told All Sports that "people with a platform should be trying to help" after being overwhelmed by the response to his comments about men's mental health following the suicide of a friend.

Last month, the 27-year-old dedicated his victory over Jordan Leavitt at London's O2 Arena to his late friend Ricky, whose death the Merseysider learned about hours before the weigh-in.

"There's a stigma in this world that men can't talk," Pimblett said after his second-round victory. Listen, if you're a man with a burden on your shoulders and believe the only way to relieve it is to commit suicide, please talk to someone. Talk to anyone."

Pimblett told All Sports on Tuesday, "I feel people in a position like mine with a platform should be trying to help people."

"It's nice to be nice, and me taking the microphone and saying that during an interview costs nothing." Others are too concerned with their own image and bank balance to do such things.

"I've received numerous messages from people saying, 'Without you, I wouldn't even be here now.'

"Messages like that, someone saying, 'I didn't take my life last night because of something you said,' will mean more than any win."

"It was never something I wanted to do." I only wanted to go fight. I enjoy being punched and punching people while entertaining others; that's what I'm good at.

"But there are bigger issues in the world that aren't being addressed, and I just thought I'd bring it up." There is more to it than just fighting.

"It's not just Ricky; several lads in Liverpool have committed suicide." Some I recognize, others I don't. It's something I've noticed a lot lately. It's all over social media. When it happened to Ricky, it hit me like a ton of bricks.

"I hadn't seen him in at least two or three months." I'm not going to say he was one of my best friends, but he was an acquaintance of mine, and if I saw him out and about, we'd stop and talk for 15 minutes."

Pimblett also used the opportunity to apologize for previous "stupid stuff" he had posted on social media.

"I have been abused several times in the past [on social media], and I have given it back," he added. In retrospect, I wonder, 'Why would you even get involved in that?' I've said stupid things that I'm sorry for.

"I apologize for anything I have said in the past." It was just me being a stupid kid. 'What were you up to, lad?' you wonder as you get older.

"I didn't mature until I was 24, 25. "I think I've matured more in the last 10 days than I have in the previous 27 years."