By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Zimbabwean mixed martial arts fighter Themba Gorimbo has deactivated his Facebook account following a wave of trolling prompted by his recent loss at UFC.
Gorimbo, who suffered a swift defeat to Vicente Luque in just 52 seconds, faced intense scrutiny from his fellow countrymen, highlighting a division in opinions about the fighter’s public persona.
After the fight, social media erupted with comments, many of which pointed fingers at Gorimbo’s previous bravado and outspoken nature.
Former fans turned critics expressed their sentiments with harsh words, with one commenter stating, “He is a loudmouth, that one. He started humble, but money quickly got into his head. Now he’s just behaving like a clown.”
Others joined in, suggesting that Gorimbo’s pre-fight confidence may have backfired, leading to criticism of his professionalism and character.
“Maybe if he focused more on training rather than his social media antics, he wouldn’t have ended up on his back in seconds!,” wrote another user.
The chants for humility were clear as many fans echoed the belief that his recent behaviour did not align with the disciplined lifestyle expected from an elite athlete.
Despite the backlash, some supporters have questioned the severity of the trolling, suggesting that Gorimbo should be viewed as a victim of extreme social media culture.
“Everyone experiences losses in their career, and trolling someone for that is just cruel. He’s a fighter at the end of the day and deserves respect,” one follower commented.
As Gorimbo takes a break from social media, questions loom about the future direction of his career. Will he reconsider his approach to publicity, tone down his persona, or return stronger and more focused?