Paulo Filho has had a well documented battle with depression in through out his fight career. That was evident when he fought for the WEC and came into both of his title defense against Chael Sonnen looking out of shape and unfocused. In October Filho was supposed to fight again at DREAM 12, but pulled out due to visa problems.
Now in a interview with Terra Magazine which was translated by URDirt.com, Filho revealed that he did not have visa issues and pulled out of the card due to his battle with depression.
“However, after beating the dangerous Dutch striker Melvin Manhoef in July in Japan, a resident of Rio Niterói only fought once again in a national event still lacked a commitment killed by a depression.
Paulão should have fought the Dream again in late October, but missed the event at the last minute. Officially claimed had failed to Japanese visa, but later revealed that the true cause of his absence was the depression.”
They also confirmed that Filho’s depression was caused by an addiction to sleeping pills. A problem that is plauging a lot more fighters these days and we are familiar with due to the Karo Parisyan pulling out at UFC 106.
“Two years ago, the addiction to sleeping pills Paulão led to a depression which disturbs her to this day. During this period, Paulão lost the belt of World Extreme Cagefighting to an American wrestler infinitely inferior to him, the median Chael Sonnen.”
Filho has not been the same since fighting for PRIDE, which has lead a lot of people to speculate that he has abused steroids and performance enhancing drugs in the past. There has never been any proof that Filho has used them in his career, but he has gone to substance abuse programs for drugs.
We hope Filho can take care of himself and get back to full health one day.



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