Comedian Paul Smith has opened up about how he relied on 'drinking and other things' to chase his performance high and was 'in a really bad place' before he began MMA training. The Liverpudlian comic is turning mixed martial arts fighter for his next gig. He has been in intensive training over the last year and will take on reality TV star Jake Quickenden at Manchester's AO Arena on November 4 in the main event dubbed ‘’Stage to the Cage.’’

Tickets and info about the event are here.

In the run-up to the bout he spoke candidly to the press about his future plans and much more. Read what he said below:

“I am 100% saying I am not going to carry on fighting, but I will definitely continue training! I travel a lot and I know Jake does as well, and to do that is fantastic, but sometimes it can get a bit lonely when you’re doing that.

These gyms are like families and they really welcome you into these places and show you the love that they do, it’s been a real eye-opener here for me.

Especially at Blackledge and the gym that I train in most of the time, they’ve become like a family to me and I don’t see myself ever not going there, I will continue to do jiu-jitsu. I’ve bought my Gi and I want to test myself in that as well. 

Black belt is the next challenge for me because I have thoroughly enjoyed it and it will be fun going in and putting on a show. I just hope we don’t look completely out of place on the card with all these pro guys.

No one is heckling me anymore, everyone is scared! But to be honest, being on the road and travelling is such an up and down experience.

If I’m really honest, I relied a lot on drinking and other things to keep me going. Trying to find that gig high and trying to chase it. If I’m really honest, I was in a bad place when I started this. Having the routine and the discipline to keep me level-headed and keep my mental health clean has been a God-send.

I’m 41 years old, I was a fat comedian and today I’m a comedian in a good shape so I would recommend it to anyone.”