UFC fighter Themba Gorimbo auctioning off his fight gear to install water pump in African hometown
UFC fighter Themba Gorimbo has decided to auction off his fight gear for a noble cause.
The 32-year-old was in action this past weekend at UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill against UFC veteran Takashi Sato. This was Gorimbo's first win inside the octagon after losing his debut against AJ Fletcher earlier this year.
Following his maiden UFC win, Themba Gorimbo has decided to auction off his fight gear and the proceedings will be used to install a water pump back in his home village in Zimbabwe. The UFC welterweight took to Twitter to announce it and revealed that he needs $3200 for the same. He said:
"Auction time - so I’ve always wanted to do this and forgot to do this yesterday at press conference. I want to auction my fight kit from yesterday fight and put the money towards building a water pump back home in my village in Zimbabwe. The money I need to get is $3200 for this."
Take a look at his tweet below:
Auction time - so I’ve always wanted to do this and forgot to do this yesterday at press conference.
I want to auction my fight kit from yesterday fight and put the money towards building a water pump back home in my village in Zimbabwe.
The money I need to get is $3200 for this https://t.co/KT7Gnd2otp
Themba Gorimbo reveals why he is broke
Following his win over Takashi Sato, the 32-year-old revealed that he fought with just $7 in his bank account. While he did not give an explanation as to why he's broke during the press conference, Gorimbo opened up about it during an interview with MMA Mania.
In the interview, Themba Gorimbo claimed that he owns a MMA gym in South Africa which is the reason why he is often left with little to no money.
Gorimbo revealed that the gym is free to use and he has done so to help underpriviliged kids and amateur fighters. As a result, he does not make any money from the gym. Instead, he has to put in money from his own pocket to run it. The UFC welterweight said:
"I own a gym in South Africa. The reason I am probably broke is not because I don't use my money wisely. It's because this gym does not make me money. This gym is like for African kids that I let them come and train in my gym for free."
The 32-year-old further added:
"People don't know, they'll be like oh he must not have used his money wisely. Yes, I make money but at the end of the day, I have a gym in South Africa that does not make me money. Everybody is just taking, taking, taking, I'm putting, putting, putting, you know?"
Catch Themba Gorimbo's comments below (14:50):