Nicholas Hwende: Biography, Age, MMA Career

Nicholas Hwende (born 21 May 1996) is a Zimbabwean trained professional mixed martial artist. He is best known for participating in the Africa’s Extreme Fighting Championship, and for being the former bantamweight champion.

Biography: Nicholas Hwende

Real Name: Nicholas Hwende

Place of Birth: Gokwe, Zimbabwe

Date of Birth: 21 May 1996 (Age - 30)

Occupation: Professional Mixed Martial Artist

Known For: 2 World champion in EFC

Fighting Record: 11 wins and 2 losses

Nationality: Zimbabwean

Early Life of Nicholas Hwende

Nicholas Hwende was born on 21 May 1996 in a small town of Gokwe in Zimbabwe. He grew up in in the northern part of Gokwe mostly referred to as Gokwe North District. He attended Njelele High School. Growing up, Hwende loved watching karate and mixed martial artist movies such as those done by Chuck Noris and Jean Claud Van Damme. Hwende later reviewed that these movies inspired him to join MMA believing that he can do better than then current fighters.

” Back home I used to watch some movies on kickboxing and stuff but it was here in South Africa that my resolve was made because of the conditions.” Said Nicholas Hwende in 2021.

While in Zimbabwe, there was no inspiration to join MMA as the focus was studying and get by with struggles of daily life. However, after finishing Ordinary Level studies in Zimbabwe, Hwende moved to South in 2016. This is where he started doing construction jobs as dagga boy (someone who mixes mortar for builders) to survive. Concurrently, he started watching EFC on television and was inspired by the martial arts movies that if he joined the sport of EFC he would do better, specifically inspired by Chuck Norris.

” I came here straight from Gokwe and the struggle was real. I did menial jobs, worked in the construction industry, running with the wheel barrows. It was really tough but I had this resolve that it’s just a phase in life and I will get where I want to be. That’s when my friends introduced me to MMA.” Said Nicholas Hwende.

He eventually started training Japanese martial art of Jujutsu. During these training, he was proven wrong about his initial position that martial arts was simple after being beaten and put to sleep by professional martial artist. After mastering the basics of Jujutsu, someone advised him to join professional mixed martial arts so that he can start earning for his skills. In one interview, he pointed out that it was painful to balance training with construction jobs. However, this marked the beginning of his entrance into professional mixed martial arts and becoming full-time in UFC.

Career of Nicholas Hwende

Nicholas Hwende became a professional mixed martial artist in 2021 after making up his mind that he will earn a living with MMA than working in construction sites. On 10 August 2021, he had his debut fight in Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC), fighting against South Africa’s Themba Mkhize in Johannesburg. In an interview, Hwende described that his debut was “a defining moment I have been waiting all my life”. He won his fight against Themba Mkhize via TKO in the second round.

After his debut fight, Nicholas had to face Angolan MMA fighter Eduardo Barros on May 7, 2022 in a Bantamweight bout fight for the interim EFC Bantamweight Championship. He won the championship via unanimous decision. The same year on the 11th of August, he defended his title against Brazilian Gian Souza and became the undisputed EFC Bantamweight Championship after defeating him in the third round in fist fight. Later in 2022, in December, he successfully defended again his title against veteran Nkazimulo Zulu at EFC 100, winning with unanimous decision.

Nicholas Hwende had his first loss in MMA on 19 June 2023, when he made his debut in in BRAVE Combat Federation at BRAVE CF 71, after suffering a loss via unanimous decision to Velimurad Alkhasov. On 13 December 2024, he faced Nkosi Ndebele at BRAVE CF 91 in Bahrain for the BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Championship. He defeated him on points in five-round match and became a world champion for the second time in his MMA career. Unfortunately, he lost this title the following year on 7 June, to Borislav Nikolić, who secured a fourth-round Ninja Choke submission.

In September 2025, Hwende successfully moved up to the featherweight division, defeating Bin Xie via unanimous decision at BRAVE CF 98. On 31 May 2026, he faced interim champion Omar Solomanov for the vacant belt at the Sholak Sports Palace in Almaty, Kazakhstan at BRAVE CF 105. At first Solomanov dominated the fight, however Hwende had a come back in fierce manner in the final rounds. He made history by submitting Solomanov with a fifth-round Brabo choke to win the BRAVE CF Featherweight World Championship, becoming a two-division champion.

In 2026, when Themba Gorimbo retired from MMA he endorsed Hwende, saying if Zimbabweans still wants to support mma from Zimbabwe, they should support Nicholas Hwende.