Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NICHOLAS HWENDE dreams of one day getting the opportunity to meet and shake hands with President Mnangagwa.
To the “Gokwe Boy”, which is the Mixed Martial Arts fighter’s nickname, meeting the President is something he claims should be a bucket list item for any true patriot.
Thus, it is his ultimate wish to meet President Mnangagwa and to also grace the Octagon in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
For weeks now, the newly crowned BRAVE CF bantamweight champion has been watching from afar as President Mnangagwa hosted the Zimbabwe senior national football and rugby teams, the Warriors and Sables, with glee and a little envy.
Now, he wants to be next in line.
“I have been a champion in two different promotions and on three different continents, namely Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC), Middle East and now BRAVE CF,” said Hwende, as he ran through his credentials.
“I think I have shown that I am the best fighter to come out of Zimbabwe, and promise to bring home the UFC belt.
“The UFC is my next target, and I am going to be the champion there, after which I hope to fulfil my biggest dream, which is to meet the President.
“I want to meet the President; I want to shake his hand and have a chat with him.”
Hwende has been on a tear over the last 12 months during which he joined the Bahrain-based promotion BRAVE Combat Federation.
Much like he has done in every promotion he has graced, it did not take much for him to get a title shot.
After three fights, he shot to the front of the line and challenged South African Nkosi Ndebele for the Bantamweight belt.
While Hwende went on to claim victory by a unanimous decision after five rounds last weekend, the fight between the two Africans lived to the hype.
The build had shot this fight to the top of the card.
“The fight with Nkosi (Ndebele) was crazy and it all started with the build,” said the Gokwe Boy.
“We are both African brothers fighting in a promotion in the Middle East, and people on social media just ran with it.
“Given that I trained and reside in South Africa, most of my fan base are South Africans. Nkosi, on the other hand, is South African, but he doesn’t train and stay there; he is based in Bali.
“We dived into the frenzy too and even made a bet as Nkosi promised to give me US$5 000 if I knocked him out. It was, however, all in jest.”
On claiming the belt, Hwende said it was a rather surreal moment, but only a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
“The UFC remains the ultimate goal,” he said.
After last weekend’s victory, Hwende’s Mixed Martial Arts record now stands at nine fights, one draw and no defeats.
Of the nine fights, three are technical knockouts, one submission and six unanimous decisions.
Despite the stellar record, belts and bright prospects, Hwende’s last plea is for a little love from his fellow countrymen and women.
“I am Zimbabwean, a true patriot and everything I do is to put my country on the map,” he said.
“It’s unfortunate that my fan base is entirely made up of South Africans; I am more known in South Africa than I am in my own country.
“Zimbabwe, I am here and pledge to bring the UFC belt home one day.”
