UFC fighter Themba Gorimbo will no longer sleep on a couch in the back of his gym after Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson gifted him a new house in Miami.
The WWE legend and Hollywood actor recently surprised Gorimbo at his gym in Miami, where he’d been living since moving from his native Zimbabwe to pursue his MMA career, after learning of his financial struggles.
Johnson posted a video showing the emotional encounter he had with Gorimbo during a surprise visit after the actor and fighter interacted on social media.
The meeting came after Gorimbo revealed that he was down to $7 in his bank account prior to getting his first win at UFC Vegas 73, which caught Johnson’s attention.
After his win over Takashi Sato at UFC Vegas 73, Gorimbo announced plans to auction off his fight kit so he could help fund the building of a water well in his native village in Zimbabwe rather than putting the money towards his own career.
“I was happier raising that money than I was after my win,” Gorimbo told MMA Fighting. “When I got home where I come from, and I help these people build this borehole, and I helped these kids pay for their school supplies, I don’t have entitlement.
“I don’t want to go back so I can say, ‘I helped you guys.’ I don’t want to see that ever again, but that happiness can only help me. If I help, I feel so good, and when I feel so good, I’m dangerous [in MMA].”
According to reports, the gesture moved Johnson, who famously pursued his own dreams after once having only $7 in his bank account, which eventually served as the name for his company, Seven Bucks Productions.
“I’ve got to tell you, your story moved me,” Johnson told Gorimbo during their first face-to-face meeting.
“When I found out you had $7 in your bank account, I know what that’s like. I was here in Miami when I had $7, but then also you win your second fight, then you sell your fight kit, you buy a water well for your village in Zimbabwe so your people can have clean water.
“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. Just to look you in the eyes and tell you, I got your back.”
The interaction didn’t stop there, as Johnson saw where Gorimbo slept on a couch surrounded by luggage and an inspirational sign made to remind the 32-year-old veteran what he was fighting for.
The WWE legend then told him they were going to meet a friend of his – who doesn’t actually exist.
Johnson then took a drive with Gorimbo that ended at a house the famed WWE superstar purchased for him, which is where Gorimbo can now reside while continuing his training in Miami.
When Gorimbo arrived at the house, which he believed was owned by the imaginary person, he spotted pictures of his family on the side.
It was then that Johnson revealed: “So Themba, I don’t know anybody who lives here. I wanted to come here, I wanted to bring you here, I wanted to look you in the eye, and I wanted to tell you, welcome home.”
He handed an extremely grateful Gorimbo the key to the house, and the pair embraced before Johnson added: “Like I said man, I was so moved by your story.
“And when I found out you were sleeping on the couch in the gym – now there’s no more couch sleeping. This is your house. Welcome home.”
Uploading the 10-minute long video to his Twitter, Johnson wrote: “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 honoured to play a very, very small role in your $7 bucks journey.
“$7 bucks. I’ve been there too. Got your back, brother. Let’s get to work on that dream of becoming @ufc champion one day. Welcome home ~ DJ. ps – enjoy your Cheetos and alligators.”