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 was born in
Bikita District,
Zimbabwe.
[ Reference at minute 8:40]
He 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.
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.
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 on May 20, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 223. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Gorimbo was scheduled to face Kiefer Crosbie on February 3, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 235.
Gorimbo faced Ramiz Brahimaj on May 18, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 241.
Gorimbo faced Niko Price on October 12, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 244.
Replacing Nick Diaz who withdrew for unknown reasons, Gorimbo faced Vicente Luque on December 7, 2024 at UFC 310.
Gorimbo is scheduled to face Jeremiah Wells on November 1, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 263.
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 (a professional mixed martial arts organisation based in Abu Dhabi) including John Rogoveanu, a philanthropist.
He plans to build a solar-powered library in his hometown so that children can be able to study after hours.
Championships and accomplishments
-
Extreme Fighting Championship
-
EFC Welterweight Champion (one time; former)
-
World MMA Awards
-
2023 Fighting Spirit of the Year for charity – building a water pump in Zimbabwe and putting others ahead of himself
Mixed martial arts record
|-
|Loss
|align=center|14–5
|
Vicente Luque
|Technical Submission (anaconda choke)
|UFC 310
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:52
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|14–4
|
Niko Price
|Decision (unanimous)
|
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|13–4
|
Ramiz Brahimaj
|Decision (unanimous)
|
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|12–4
|Pete Rodriguez
|TKO (punches)
|
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:32
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|11–4
|
Takashi Sato
|Decision (unanimous)
|
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|10–4
|A.J. Fletcher
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|
|
|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
|
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|9–2
|Lyle Karam
|Submission (triangle choke)
|EFC 84
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|2:06
|
Pretoria, South Africa
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|8–2
|Luke Michael
|TKO (punches)
|EFC 82
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:48
|
Brakpan, South Africa
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7–2
|José da Rocha Junior
|Decision (unanimous)
|EFC 79
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|
Johannesburg, South Africa
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|6–2
|Dave Mazany
|KO (punches)
|EFC 63
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|0:39
|
Cape Town, South Africa
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|6–1
|Joe Cummins
|Decision (unanimous)
|EFC 49
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|
Johannesburg, South Africa
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|5–1
|Leon Mynhardt
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|EFC 44
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|1:03
|
Johannesburg, South Africa
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|5–0
|Alex Cheboub
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|EFC 37
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:50
|
Johannesburg, South Africa
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|4–0
|Chaz Wasserman
|Submission (brabo choke)
|EFC 27
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|4:31
|
Gauteng, South Africa
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3–0
|Chimmy van Winkel
|Submission (armbar)
|EFC 26
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:59
|
Gauteng, South Africa
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2–0
|Juan Lubbe
|Submission (armbar)
|EFC 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, South Africa
|
|-
External links
