Themba Takura Lawrence Gorimbo (born January 23, 1991) is a Zimbabwean professional mixed martial artist who currently competes 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. He was bitten by German Shepherd dogs after he was caught digging for blood diamond illegally at the mines. At age 17, Gorimbo fled to South Africa, where he eventually discovered mixed martial arts. He later bought his own plane ticket to go to the United States to pursue his MMA career.

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 ''UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 219'', ''UFC on ESPN+ 77'', and ''UFC Vegas 69'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on February 18, 2023, at ...

. However, Goff withdrawal due to undisclosed reason and was replaced by A.J. Fletcher. He lost the fight via a guillotine choke in round two. Gorimbo faced

Takashi Sato is a Japanese mixed martial artist. A professional since 2013, he currently competes in the Welterweight (MMA), Welterweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Early life Born to a Japanese father and Taiwanese mother, Sato ...

on May 20, 2023, at

UFC Fight Night 223 ''UFC Fight Night 223'' (also known as ''UFC on ESPN+ 81'') is an upcoming mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that will take place on April 29, 2023, at TBD venue and location. Background A lightweight bou ...

. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Gorimbo was scheduled to face Kiefer Crosbie on February 3, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 235. However on January 5, it was announced that Crosbie pulled out due to an injury. He was replaced by Pete Rodriguez. He won the fight via technical knockout in round one. Gorimbo faced Ramiz Brahimaj on May 18, 2024, at

UFC Fight Night 241 ''UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 241'', ''UFC on ESPN+ 99'' and ''UFC Vegas 92'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on May 18, 2024, at the UFC ...

. He won the bout by unanimous decision.

Personal life

He became the first Zimbabwean to win a fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

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. 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. Themba started a project of drilling boreholes in Bikita, the village he grew up in, in Zimbabwe. He received assistance from the

UAE Warriors UAE Warriors is a mixed martial arts league and martial arts promotion in the Middle East based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Established in 2012, UAE Warriors has to date held 34 events across five nations. See also *Ultimate Fighting C ...

(a professional mixed martial arts organisation based in

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (, ; ar, أَبُو ظَبْيٍ ' ) is the capital and second-most populous city (after Dubai) of the United Arab Emirates. It is also the capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the centre of the Abu Dhabi Metropolitan Area. ...

) including John Rogoveanu, a philanthropist. He started with two boreholes. Fellow fighter Marlon Vera also donated to Themba's cause to building more boreholes. He plans to build a solar-powered library in his hometown so that children can be able to study after hours.

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, 13–4 , Ramiz Brahimaj , Decision (unanimous) , UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Las Vegas, Nevada, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 12–4 , Pete Rodriguez , TKO (punches) , UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Imavov , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:32 , Las Vegas, Nevada, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 11–4 ,

, Decision (unanimous) , UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Las Vegas, Nevada, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 10–4 , A.J. Fletcher , Submission (guillotine choke) , UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:37 , Las Vegas, Nevada, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 10–3 , Julio Rafael Rodrigues , Decision (unanimous) , Fury FC 65 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , New Orleans, Louisiana, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 9–3 , Handesson Ferreira , Decision (unanimous) , UAE Warriors 24 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United Arab Emirates , , - , Win , align=center, 9–2 , Lyle Karam , Submission (triangle choke) , EFC Worldwide 84 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:06 , Pretoria, South Africa , , - , Win , align=center, 8–2 , Luke Michael , TKO (punches) , EFC Worldwide 82 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:48 , Brakpan, South Africa , , - , Win , align=center, 7–2 , José da Rocha Junior , Decision (unanimous) , EFC Worldwide 79 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Johannesburg, South Africa , , - , Loss , align=center, 6–2 , Dave Mazany , KO (punches) , EFC Worldwide 63 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Cape Town, South Africa , , - , Win , align=center, 6–1 , Joe Cummins , Decision (unanimous) , EFC Worldwide 49 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Johannesburg, South Africa , , - , Loss , align=center, 5–1 , Leon Mynhardt , Submission (guillotine choke) , EFC Worldwide 44 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:03 , Johannesburg, South Africa , , - , Win , align=center, 5–0 , Alex Cheboub , Submission (guillotine choke) , EFC Africa 37 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:50 , Johannesburg, South Africa , , - , Win , align=center, 4–0 , Chaz Wasserman , Submission (brabo choke) , EFC Africa 27 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 4:31 , Gauteng, South Africa , , - , Win , align=center, 3–0 , Chimmy van Winkel , Submission (armbar) , EFC Africa 26 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:59 , Gauteng, South Africa , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Juan Lubbe , Submission (armbar) , EFC Africa 22 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:48 , Gauteng, South Africa , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Sydney Mokgolo , Submission (triangle choke) , Imagine FC 3 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:50 ,

Gqeberha Gqeberha (), formerly Port Elizabeth and colloquially often referred to as P.E., is a major seaport and the most populous city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is the seat of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, So ...

, South Africa , , -

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gorimbo, Themba 1991 births Living people Zimbabwean male mixed martial artists