Mixed Martial Arts fighter Gary Goodridge is currently in Kenya for a short stay.
The legendary 59-year-old kickboxer shared on his social media pages that he’s currently in the country but didn’t the nature of his visit.
Goodridge, nicknamed “Big Daddy” has been a fighter for more than a decade but had to retire in 2012 when he was diagnosed with degenerative dementia, a type of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) caused by repeated blows to the head.
#LegendinKenya The City view, The Expressway looks amazing. I Love Kenya already. Can’t wait to start pic.twitter.com/GLyt4juYGn
— Gary Goodridge (@garyhgoodridge) October 25, 2022
Last year, he spoke to Inside MMA about how his life has changed following the diagnosis which doctors have confirmed will only get progressively worse.
“I truly honestly believe that if it wasn’t for the pills I’m taking, my life would have been done a long time ago,” he said. “Oh absolutely. I would have taken my life. Absolutely.”
It’s not yet clear why the fighter is in the country but it might be to scout for talent ahead of MMA’s launch in East Africa in December.
Africa Fighting Championship (AFC) debut its maiden tournament on the continent.
AFC owned by the First Course Entertainment is an East African-based club and the brainchild of Big Daddy.
He’s expected to lead a team of distinguished arm-wrestlers from the United States including Maurice Smith, who was incorporated into the UFC Hall of Fame alongside Art Davie.
Others expected in the entourage are “Big Cat” Ericson, Mark Coleman, Sean Wheelock the emcee and the directors’ guild, Mark Lucas.
