The Rock buys Zimbabwean UFC fighter Themba Gorimbo a house

May 24, 2024

Doug Mattushek

Sports writer

Folks, get the tissue box ready...

Hailing from a small village in Zimbabwe, Gorimbo started out with nothing. Working his way up the rankings of South African fighting promotion, EFC, he was crowned welterweight champion in 2020. This gave him the springboard to land a coveted UFC contract.

It wasn't a fairytale start in the promotion, as he suffered a tough loss via submission in February. However, Gorimbo bounced back with a dominant decision win over Takashi Sato in May, becoming the first Zimbabwean to record a victory in the UFC.

Off the back of a win and with some sort of platform, Gorimbo told the media his story. He arrived at the arena on fight night recovering from flu and with just $7 in his bank account. Later, he auctioned off his fight kit on social media to pay for a borehole and water pump for his village back home.

These actions caught the attention of Johnson, who began swapping messages with him. Gorimbo's journey resonated with Johnson, who also came from very little before making it big in WWE.

This week, Johnson decided to return the favour. In a video shared on social media, the former wrestler surprised Gorimbo with a visit to his gym in Miami, then drove him to his new house.

"I've got to tell you, your story moved me," Johnson told an emotional Gorimbo.

"Because you could have taken that money and put it down on a car, on an apartment, but you didn't. You took care of your people, and that just says exactly who you are, and that's why I flew all the way in. I wanted to look you in the eye and I wanted to tell you welcome home."

Gorimbo has been living alone and sleeping on a couch in a conference room near his gym in Miami.

"I will become a champion one day," he promised Johnson.

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