Themba Gorimbo

Themba Gorimbo
Born	(1991-01-23) January 23, 1991 (age 33) Bikita, Masvingo, Zimbabwe
Other names	The Answer
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
Division	Welterweight (2013–present) Lightweight (2015)
Fighting out of	Johannesburg, South Africa
Team	MMA Master
Years active	2013–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	17
Wins	13
By knockout	2
By submission	6
By decision	5
Losses	4
By knockout	1
By submission	2
By decision	1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Themba Gorimbo (born January 23, 1991) is a Zimbabwean professional mixed martial artist, currently competing in the welterweight division of The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Early life

Gorimbo lost his mom at the age of 12 and his dad at 13. He dropped out of school at the age of 16 to become a blood diamond smuggler in order to survive and take care of his younger brother. ^[1] He was bitten by German Shepherd dogs after he was caught digging for blood diamond illegally at the mines. ^[1] At age 17, Gorimbo fled to South Africa, where he eventually discovered mixed martial arts. ^[2] He later bought his own plane ticket to go to the United States to pursue his MMA career. ^[3]

Mixed martial arts career

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Gorimbo was scheduled to make his promotional debut against Billy Goff on February 18, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 219. ^[4] However, Goff withdrawal due to undisclosed reason and was replaced by A.J. Fletcher. ^[5] He lost the fight via a guillotine choke in round two. ^[6]

Gorimbo faced Takashi Sato on May 20, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 223. He won the fight via unanimous decision. ^[7]

Gorimbo was scheduled to face Kiefer Crosbie on February 3, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 235. ^[8] However on January 5, it was announced that Crosbie pulled out due to an injury. ^[9] He was replaced by Pete Rodriguez. ^[10] He won the fight via technical knockout in round one. ^[11]

Gorimbo faced Ramiz Brahimaj on May 18, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 241. ^[12] He won the bout by unanimous decision. ^[13]

Personal life

He became the first Zimbabwean to win a fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. ^[14]

Philanthropy

In a post match interview, after his first UFC win, Gorimbo mentioned that he did not have any money, that he had $7 in his account. ^[3] That caught the attention of former WWE and Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson who surprised Gorimbo at his gym. Touched by Themba's story of having $7 in his account, probably due to the fact that Johnson also had $7 after being dropped by the NFL, Johnson surprised Themba by buying him a house. ^[2]

Themba started a project of drilling boreholes in Bikita, the village he grew up in, in Zimbabwe. He received assistance from the UAE Warriors (a professional mixed martial arts organisation based in Abu Dhabi) including John Rogoveanu, a philanthropist. ^[14] He started with two boreholes. ^[15] Fellow fighter Marlon Vera also donated to Themba's cause to building more boreholes. ^[16]

He plans to build a solar-powered library in his hometown so that children can be able to study after hours. ^[17]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown

17 matches	13 wins	4 losses
By knockout	2	1
By submission	6	2
By decision	5	1

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Win	13–4	Ramiz Brahimaj	Decision (unanimous)	UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy	May 18, 2024	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	12–4	Pete Rodriguez	TKO (punches)	UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Imavov	February 3, 2024	1	0:32	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	11–4	Takashi Sato	Decision (unanimous)	UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill	May 20, 2023	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss	10–4	A.J. Fletcher	Submission (guillotine choke)	UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield	February 18, 2023	2	1:37	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	10–3	Julio Rafael Rodrigues	Decision (unanimous)	Fury FC 65	June 26, 2022	3	5:00	New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Loss	9–3	Handesson Ferreira	Decision (unanimous)	UAE Warriors 24	October 29, 2021	3	5:00	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win	9–2	Lyle Karam	Submission (triangle choke)	EFC Worldwide 84	March 14, 2020	2	2:06	Pretoria, South Africa	Defended the EFC Welterweight Championship.
Win	8–2	Luke Michael	TKO (punches)	EFC Worldwide 82	September 28, 2019	1	2:48	Brakpan, South Africa	Won the vacant EFC Welterweight Championship.
Win	7–2	José da Rocha Junior	Decision (unanimous)	EFC Worldwide 79	May 4, 2019	3	5:00	Johannesburg, South Africa
Loss	6–2	Dave Mazany	KO (punches)	EFC Worldwide 63	September 9, 2017	3	5:00	Cape Town, South Africa
Win	6–1	Joe Cummins	Decision (unanimous)	EFC Worldwide 49	May 13, 2016	3	5:00	Johannesburg, South Africa	Return to Welterweight.
Loss	5–1	Leon Mynhardt	Submission (guillotine choke)	EFC Worldwide 44	October 3, 2015	2	1:03	Johannesburg, South Africa	For the EFC Lightweight Championship.
Win	5–0	Alex Cheboub	Submission (guillotine choke)	EFC Africa 37	February 21, 2015	1	1:50	Johannesburg, South Africa	Lightweight debut.
Win	4–0	Chaz Wasserman	Submission (brabo choke)	EFC Africa 27	February 27, 2014	2	4:31	Gauteng, South Africa
Win	3–0	Chimmy van Winkel	Submission (armbar)	EFC Africa 26	December 12, 2013	1	1:59	Gauteng, South Africa
Win	2–0	Juan Lubbe	Submission (armbar)	EFC Africa 22	August 15, 2013	1	3:48	Gauteng, South Africa
Win	1–0	Sydney Mokgolo	Submission (triangle choke)	Imagine FC 3	June 15, 2013	2	1:50	Gqeberha, South Africa	Welterweight debut.

^[18]

References

1. Heck, Mike (2021-10-28). "We Got Next: Modestas Bukauskas, David Onama, and Themba Gorimbo". MMA Fighting . Retrieved 2024-05-20.
2. Raimondi, Marc (2024-02-02). "Welcome to the $7 club: How 'The Rock' changed a UFC fighter's life". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
3. Heck, Mike (2023-05-22). "Themba Gorimbo only had $7 in bank account ahead of UFC Vegas 73 win, praises 'great guy' Colby Covington". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
4. Jay Anderson (2022-11-01). "Billy Goff and Themba Gorimbo debut against each other at UFC's Feb. 18, 2023 event". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
5. Vipin Raghuwanshi (2022-12-29). "UFC Vegas 69: Bill Goff out, AJ Fletcher faces Themba Gorimbo". itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
6. Bitter, Shawn (2023-02-18). "UFC Vegas 69: A.J. Fletcher Picks Up First UFC Win, Spoils Debut of Themba Gorimbo". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
7. Theodosi, Jamie (2023-05-20). "UFC Vegas 73: Gorimbo Grinds Out Unanimous Decision Win Over Takashi Sato". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
8. Sayan Nag (2023-11-15). "Themba Gorimbo slated to face Kiefer Crosbie at UFC event on Feb. 3". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
9. Nolan King and Farah Hannoun (2024-01-05). "Two more fighters withdraw from UFC Fight Night 235 in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
10. Riddle, Mathew (2024-01-05). "UFC Fight Night 235 Takes a Hit as 2 Fighters Pulled From Card". Sports Illustrated MMA News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
11. Anderson, Jay (2024-02-03). "UFC Vegas 85: Themba Gorimbo Smashes Pete Rodriguez, Calls for "Biggest Opportunities"". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
12. Raghuwanshi, Vipin (2024-03-01). "Ramiz Brahimaj vs Themba Gorimbo Reported for May 18 UFC Event". www.itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
13. Dewar, Val (2024-05-19). "UFC Vegas 92: Themba Gorimbo Outwrestles Wrestler Ramiz Brahimaj". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
14. Chikamhi, Eddie (2023-06-12). "Gorimbo wins over Dwayne Johnson 'The Rock'". The Herald .
15. Thakuri, Aaindri (2023-08-21). "UFC Fighter Helps Rural Area After Financial Aid From $800M Worth WWE Star The Rock". Inside Sport India. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
16. Chauhan, Prit (2023-09-30). "Dwayne Johnson's Philanthropic Gesture Receives 'Chito' Marlon Vera's Support As African UFC Star Shares Wholesome Update". EssentiallySports. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
17. Bedi, Harddit (2024-02-04). "UFC News: Backed by Dwayne Johnson, Themba Gorimbo Reveals Solar Powered Library Is in His Plans Through Auction- "Kids Can Go at Night"". EssentiallySports. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
18. Sherdog.com. "Themba". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-05-24.

External links

• Themba Gorimbo at UFC
• Professional MMA record for Themba Gorimbo from Sherdog