It’s been a very long time coming for Themba Gorimbo.
Final Combating Championship (UFC) is again in Las Vegas this weekend (Feb. 18, 2023) on the UFC APEX (try your complete card). Buried within the “Prelims” lineup is Gorimbo (10-3), a 32-year-old Zimbabwean fighter that’s trying to make a press release and introduce himself to the broader MMA viewers.
Gorimbo is the second Zimbabwean fighter to compete within the promotion, and he wasn’t too glad about that.
“There’s already one other man within the UFC from Zimbabwe, Bloody Diamond, my man Mike Mathetha. I imply, I used to be upset when he acquired signed first,” Gorimbo advised MMAmania.com in an unique interview. “What’s humorous is he acquired signed earlier than me, however I used to be the man that had extra fights and every little thing. So, I used to be form of like upset. He was 3-0 when he acquired signed to the UFC, and I needed to make historical past to develop into the primary Zimbabwean within the UFC, however I’ve acquired another probability to make historical past on Saturday evening.”
“I really advised [Blood Diamond] this, I spoke to him, and I advised him, ‘Brother, don’t struggle earlier than I struggle,’” Gorimbo continued. “Then he requested why, and I mentioned to him, ‘as a result of I’m meant to be the primary Zimbabwean to win a struggle within the UFC. You have been the primary to be signed, I’m going to be the Zimbabwean to win a struggle within the UFC.’ And it’s gonna occur.”
The welterweight “Reply” is the most recent African-born fighter to affix UFC and with the promotion planning to go to Africa within the close to future, it could make sense for Gorimbo to be a staple of the cardboard.
Surprisingly, he doesn’t wish to struggle in Africa anytime quickly.
“[I’m ready] to symbolize my nation within the UFC,” Gorimbo mentioned. “I’m excited for different folks’s alternatives, for different fighters from Africa. However for me, I’ll be sincere and upfront. I don’t intend on combating on African soil for a really very long time. I wish to struggle in America. I really like this nation. I drove by the T-Cell area this morning, and my coronary heart began beating. As a result of I do know in the future, I’m going to important occasion there. I wish to make historical past in America. My story is thought in Africa. It’s about time to unfold it. So yeah, I don’t intend on combating in Africa for a really very long time. I really like America.”
Gorimbo is coming off a win over Julio Rodrigues final June at Fury FC 65. The plan for the 32-year-old fighter was for him to compete on season six of Dana White’s Contender Sequence, nonetheless, after some issues fell aside, he leapfrogged the present and acquired instantly signed.
Gorimbo tries to make historical past this weekend in opposition to A.J. Fletcher, who’s coming off two-straight losses.
“AJ Fletcher’s again is sort of in opposition to the wall,” Gorimbo mentioned. “My life is in opposition to the wall, brother. That’s one factor I’m gonna inform you. It’s both this or I’ll return to gardening. You realize what I’m saying? I’ll return to my village to herd cows. I’m not gonna try this. I’m not gonna let any man try this to me. On Saturday evening, you’ll perceive that.”
“Such as you mentioned, AJ Fletcher’s again is sort of in opposition to the wall…My life is in opposition to the wall. That is one factor I’ll inform you. It is both this or I’m going again to gardening..or return to my village to herd cows..I am not going to let any man try this to me.” – @TheAnswerMMA pic.twitter.com/w3pTrAi7pt
— MMA mania (@mmamania) February 13, 2023
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