‘It’s now or never’: Gorimbo explains painful decision to cut family ties

Zimbabwe-born UFC fighter Themba Gorimbo has spoken candidly about the difficult choice to distance himself from his family.

Gorimbo ignited intense discussion following remarks about his personal life and identity, which he shared in an interview with CNN over the weekend.

The athlete said he has intentionally cut off communication with his family and no longer considers himself tied to any one country.

Gorimbo clarifies the situation

After the interview Gorimbo took to social media saying relentless pressure, conflict, and expectations threatened to derail his career at the most critical moment of his life.

Now in his mid-thirties, he says time is no longer on his side.

“I only have a few years left…it’s now or never. If I want to become a UFC champion, I have to be fully focused,” he said.

Gorimbo’s journey: From Zimbabwe to the UFC dream

Gorimbo’s journey from Zimbabwe and South Africa to the global stage of the UFC has been widely celebrated, particularly back home where success abroad often carries the weight of collective hope.

After moving to the United States, the fighter said he felt a strong responsibility to “pull others up with him”, actively trying to create opportunities for relatives and people from his community.

“When I made it to the UFC, I wanted more for my family. I tried to help with jobs, opportunities, even getting sponsors involved,” he explained.

He said those efforts included sending money home, something he had never done before making it to the UFC, and supporting projects in his village.

When Gorimbo’s helping became a burden

What began as goodwill, Gorimbo says, soon turned into conflict.

According to the fighter, infighting among family members, rising financial expectations, and constant demands created an emotionally exhausting environment.

“No matter how much you give, people always want more. They don’t understand the circumstances under which that money is earned,” he said.

He revealed that he sometimes sacrificed sponsorship money to support projects back home, only for those efforts to be dismissed or questioned.

Accusations, witchcraft and a familiar stigma

In a revelation that has struck a chord with many Zimbabweans, Gorimbo said his success was even linked to accusations of witchcraft, a stigma that often shadows prosperity in African communities.

“I was accused of witchcraft just because I made it to the UFC. I had a cousin that said I was stealing everybody’s luck in the family, what so ever,” he said.

Such accusations, he added, were deeply hurtful and created further division within the family.

Family pressure during fight camps

Gorimbo also spoke about repeated disruptions during his fight camps, describing how personal disputes would surface at the worst possible times.

He said the constant emotional stress became a serious threat to his preparation and mental health, forcing him to draw a hard line.

He said he realised he couldn’t keep being dragged into family problems while trying to chase something big.