By Zim Sport Live Writer
South Africa based Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Nicholas Hwende has made a passionate appeal for sponsorship after he won the BRAVE Combat Federation (CF) Bantamweight world title in Bahrain last week.
The former Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) champion’s dream has always been to get to the lucrative UFC in the US, where another Zimbabwean Themba Gorimbo competes.
Hwende has done a lot to fly the country’s flag in MMA with little or no sponsorship especially from his home country Zimbabwe.
After beating South African Nkosi Ndebele by a unanimous decision to win the Brave title, Hwende appealed for sponsorship particularly from Zimbabwean corporates.
“Sponsorship is the biggest challenge that I have in my career. People (in Zimbabwe) don’t know me much which is probably why I don’t not have sponsors or big corporates who have supported me in my quest to become a UFC champion one day. Even during my EFC days I became champion without any sponsorship,” he said in an exclusive interview with this publication.
“Now I am pleading to Zimbabweans and all those that can help sponsor me to my dream. I am a fighter who has been flying the country’s flag in MMA and I desperately need your support. Nicholas Hwende is a prospect in MMA who has been winning championships in different continents and I will be a UFC champion one day. I need your support and sponsorship,” the Gokwe born and bred fighter said.
Hwende won the EFC title for the first time after defeating Brazilian Gian Souza back in August 2022 and went on to defend the title several times.
While he is looking to defend the Brave title the dream remains to reach the UFC.
“The target for 2025 is to defend my title and get to UFC. That is the big dream to get to UFC and once I get there I know I can win the title and become the world champion. I can’t wait to get there and all I need is just one opportunity and support in terms of sponsorship,” Hwende said.
BRAVE CF is the largest mixed martial arts promotion organisation from the Middle East, based in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
It was founded in 2016 with the support of His Highness Shaikh Khaled bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the organization seeks to develop a worldwide sports media platform which unifies nations via the honouring of competitive sports, while elevating athletes to champion status.