How The Rock Changed UFC Fighter Themba Gorimbo’s Life After Finding Out He Was Left With Just $7
Themba Gorimbo’s life is a story of perseverance, hardship, and an unexpected act of kindness that changed everything. Born and raised in rural Zimbabwe, Gorimbo faced unimaginable struggles from a young age. He lost both parents before turning 14 and dropped out of school at 16 to work in dangerous diamond mines, where he narrowly escaped death several times. By 17, he fled to South Africa to start over and eventually discovered mixed martial arts — a path that would lead him to the UFC.
Getting there, however, was far from easy. Gorimbo faced years of visa issues, missed opportunities, and countless setbacks before finally earning his place in the UFC. His debut ended in defeat, and with little money left, he took a leap of faith and moved to Miami to train at MMA Masters. Without a place to stay, he slept on a gym couch, trained relentlessly, and survived with help from teammates and friends. Before his second UFC fight, Gorimbo was battling the flu and had just $7.49 left in his bank account — a number that eerily mirrored the early struggles of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
After Gorimbo’s emotional post-fight comments and social media post revealing his $7.49 balance, Johnson came across the story online. Having once been in a similar position himself, Johnson was deeply moved. He reached out to Gorimbo, promising to help. A few weeks later, while Gorimbo believed he was filming a promotional video, Johnson appeared at his gym, surprising him with a heartfelt visit. But the true surprise came moments later when Johnson took Gorimbo to a house in Miami — and revealed that it was now his new home.
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The Rock had fully furnished and paid for the house, giving Gorimbo and his family a fresh start. The gesture symbolized not only financial relief but also recognition of Gorimbo’s resilience and integrity. Since then, Gorimbo’s focus has been on giving back. He’s used his platform to fund water wells and medical care in his home village in Zimbabwe, hoping to inspire others facing hardship.
Today, Gorimbo trains harder than ever, carrying both his past and The Rock’s act of generosity as motivation. From sleeping on a gym couch with $7 to owning a home in Miami, his story is a powerful reminder that faith, hard work, and compassion can truly change lives.
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