Mental health has always been a semi-Kryptonite for MMA fighters. You see, the world often expects mixed martial artists to portray themselves as custodians of toughness, and this pressure makes these ‘humans’ forget that talking about their mental health and seeking help is also a sign of strength. But the world is changing! Prior to UFC 302, Dustin Poirier quoted, “We feel like it’s a weakness to admit we’re going through something or to seek help because things don’t feel right between our ears. It’s not [a weakness]. It really isn’t. You need to take care of yourself. Being prepared to fight and being your best, the mental space is part of that. It’s all connected.”

Thankfully, ‘The Diamond’ had people to talk to about it, and his beautiful family certainly helped. Why else do you think he dedicated his last bout against Islam Makhachev to the women in his life? But there’s another thing that we can be certain of. Even Paddy Pimblett had his struggles with mental health. And the Brit did receive a lot of support when he opened up about it, and that certainly boosted him. But sometimes, a fighter can only muster enough courage to express their issues in silence. And that silence carries the agony of a thousand unheard cries. 

This reality hit former ONE FC juggernaut Angela Lee Pucci in the worst way possible as she realized the importance of good mental health after losing her sister, Victoria Lee, to suicide. And so, she decided that she would help the other fighters in dealing with their mental health problems through a company called Fightstory. Of course, Dana White and Co. swooped in to help her in her quest. It is safe to say that this isn’t just a project, it’s a cause!

During a recent conversation with Ariel Helwani, Angela Lee weighed in on her goal for Fightstory. She said, “For me, my dream for Fightstory is to, essentially, revolutionize combat sports and making sure that athletes’ safety and well-being is prioritized. And I think that, you know, there are so many things that as fighters we do that we put on the line, and it’s a high-stakes job.”

She added, “It’s such an extreme sport. And you’re in such an extreme environment. I think that the fighters deserve to have as much support going into this as possible.” Needless to say, the fighters put almost everything on the line when they enter the cage. It’s not just health at that moment.

They also put their finances and peace on the table. This, in turn, brings them stress. And these are the times when they need support from an external factor. Lee continued, “You know, we need to make sure that you know, before the fight, during, and after the fight, the athletes have the support and the tools they need to care for themselves.”

The former ONE FC strawweight champion wished she had known about the things about mental health back when she was still competing. No doubt, this would have given her an edge over her opponents. However, at the end of the day, it’s not just about the fights and the outcome of those fights. What matters the most is definitely much more than what the fighters endure inside the cage. But how can fighters deal with such experiences? Let’s see what Lee has to say about it. 

Angela Lee weighs in on how to deal with mental health issues

The Lee family is indeed a family of warriors. Christian Lee, Adrian Lee, and their father, Ken Lee, have dominated the MMA cage for decades. But Victoria Lee’s passing at the age of 18 was a great setback for the Lee family. And that pushed ‘Unstoppable’ to take steps and help those in need.

Back in 2024, she shared some advice with the world on how to deal with mental health issues. She said, “What I would say to fighters out there is… we have to have this image for our profession. But make sure that you give yourself an outlet to show how you really feel to be who you really are, whether that outlet be through friends or family or coach, or through just journaling, getting those feelings out there. You can’t keep it all bottled up for so long.”

But there was more to it than what met the eye. She continued, “There are many things that can be done to help support the mental health of athletes, individuals, especially in the fight world.” According to her, the traditional mindset of pushing through everything that life had to offer and not showing any kind of weakness was both good and bad. But what was important was finding the balance between all of that turmoil. After all, the world does desire to watch people win, but not at the expense of hurting themselves. 

Meanwhile, the loss of Victoria Lee still haunts ‘Unstoppable’. When her thoughts delve into her sister’s memories, tears well up in her eyes. But there was one thing that kept her going. She said, “Victoria has always wanted to use her life to help others to do good. I know that one of the things she’s always wanted to do was to find something that she was good at, something that she loved, that would help others. And I know that’s what we’re doing with Fightstory.”

What do you think of the importance of mental health in MMA? Have the stories from Lee Pucci, Poirier, and Pimblett inspired you in any way? Do you have any advice for the readers who are struggling with mental health issues? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.