They say adversity has a way of introducing a man to himself. This is certainly true in the case of UFC welterweight Themba Gorimbo. The fighter born in Masvingo, Zimbabwe, has overcome tremendous hardships, including being almost bitten to death by German shepherds led by police. Now, all his hard work is coming to fruition.
Gorimbo, who recently got his first win in the UFC against Takashi Sato, has led quite a life. In an interview, he recalled the harrowing night in Zimbabwe that had transformed his life. There, he stated the risks involved in undertaking illegal diamond mining to prevent going hungry. But the said night turned near fatal when the police showed up, and a simple arrest turned into a nightmare for the fighter.
“They had German shepherds biting me,” said Gorimbo. “If you see my body, I’ve got dog marks all over my body where I was bitten by the dogs. That night probably changed me mentally as a person, changed everything because I got bitten by the dogs and I lost a lot of blood and I almost died. Luckily, I survived and I’m here to tell a story about it.”
After all the trepidations, Gorimbo made it to the UFC after being inspired by the movie Never Back Down. And when he defeated Sato, Gorimbo sold all his fight gear, as he only had $7.49 in his bank account. One would think he used the sale proceedings toward an apartment, considering he slept in the gym. But he used it instead to build a bush pump in his native Zimbabwe, providing clean water to his people. This selfless nature didn’t go unnoticed.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Gifts Themba Gorimbo a House
When Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson heard Gorimbo’s story, he paid him a surprise visit. The former was drawn to the fighter after hearing he only had 7 bucks left in his bank account. A similar fate had befallen Johnson years ago and thought it his duty to help Gorimbo. The former pro wrestler had an even bigger surprise for Gorimbo, who, unfortunately, still slept in his gym.
Welcome home @TheAnswerMMA
You and your family enjoy your new house brother.
Lights are on.
Bills are paid.
Keep your “My Reason” list close, keep taking care of your people and I’m honored to play a very, very small role in your $7 bucks journey.
$7 bucks.
I’ve been there… pic.twitter.com/rSyC7EiD5I— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) August 3, 2023
The interaction moved forward with ‘The Rock’ taking Gorimbo for a drive, which eventually led to a house. After entering the place and being shown around, Gorimbo was told that this was his new home. Gorimbo, unable to contain his joy, embraced Johnson and displayed his gratitude to the superstar.
“I wanted to look you in the eye and I wanted to tell you welcome home,” Johnson said as he handed the keys over to an emotional Gorimbo.
Now the fighter has a place of his own he can call home. He further promised Johnson that one day he’d be a champion and make him proud. That would be a fairy tale for the ages. So what are your thoughts on the matter? Let us know in the comments down below.