In a revealing interview on CNN’s African Voices Changemakers, Zimbabwean UFC star Themba Gorimbo sat down with correspondent Larry Madowo to share a side of his story that the world rarely sees.
While Gorimbo has been celebrated as the first Zimbabwean to win in the Octagon, the "Cinderella Man" used the platform to announce a painful personal evolution: he has officially disowned his family and distanced himself from his national identity.
Gorimbo’s decision to sever ties comes after years of feeling unsupported by the very people he fought to represent. He recounted how, during his lowest moments—specifically after a recent loss in his career—those closest to him were the first to celebrate his downfall.
"When I lost my last fight, online, the most people that were crucifying me were Zimbabweans. And my cousins and my family members were celebrating my loss," Gorimbo told Madowo. "I used to think Zimbabweans loved me. It's a sad reality because you want to lift the flag so high for the country. But I don't belong to a certain country because I want to be free. When I’m free, I’m happy. And when I’m happy, I’m dangerous."
The fighter even expressed a desire to drop his surname entirely to detach from the weight of his past, stating he wishes to be known simply as Themba. He believes that without the constraints of national or familial expectation, he can finally reach his full potential.
A significant portion of the interview focused on the cultural pressures Gorimbo faces, specifically the concept of black tax—the financial obligation successful Africans often feel toward extended family. Gorimbo described his family as entitled and claimed they only reached out once he found fame and fortune.
To protect his mental health and career goals, Gorimbo revealed that he has since blocked all family members on his phone. "I love my family from far," he told Madowo. "I don't talk to any of my family members anymore. None. I have cut all my family members off... If I keep talking to my family members, I will not achieve my goal."
His detachment is so absolute that he has given specific instructions regarding his death, stating clearly that he refuses to be buried in his home village or anywhere in Zimbabwe.
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This is a radical departure from traditional African values, where being laid to rest in one's ancestral lands is considered sacred.
Instead, Gorimbo has made his final wishes known to his cousins. "If I die, I don't need to be buried in my village," he stated firmly. "I have told my cousins, I've told everybody. If I die, burn my ashes and throw them in Kruger National Park because that's my favourite place."
By choosing the vast wilderness of the park over his village, Gorimbo is making a final statement about his desire for personal freedom over tribal or national belonging.
Despite the personal turmoil, Gorimbo’s professional trajectory remains historic. Since making his debut, he has become a symbol of resilience in the MMA world.
He currently holds a professional record of 14 wins and 4 losses, consistently climbing the ranks of the UFC's welterweight division. He famously arrived in the United States with only US$7 in his bank account before his story caught the attention of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who bought him a house in Miami to ensure he could train without the stress of being homeless.
Ironically, while Gorimbo has cut off his relatives, his heart remains open to his community. He has auctioned his UFC fight kits to fund the construction of five boreholes in his village to prevent the same dirty-water diseases, such as bilharzia, that he suffered from as a child. He continues to pay school fees for local children and engages in deep personal prayer, though he notes he has never been to a church. He insists these acts are for his own peace of mind rather than a sense of duty.
"I’m not a good person. I’m not a bad person," he concluded. "I’m just Themba."
