UFC Vegas 69: Themba Gorimbo looks to make history...

UFC Vegas 69: Themba Gorimbo looks to make history as first Zimbabwean fighter to earn Octagon win

MMA Mania- It’s been a long time coming for Themba Gorimbo.

Ultimate Fighting Championship is back in Las Vegas this weekend (Feb. 18, 2023) at the UFC APEX

Buried in the “Prelims” lineup is Gorimbo (10-3), a 32-year-old Zimbabwean fighter that is looking to make a statement and introduce himself to the broader MMA audience.

Gorimbo is the second Zimbabwean fighter to compete in the promotion, and he wasn’t too happy about that.

“There’s already another guy in the UFC from Zimbabwe, Bloody Diamond, my guy Mike Mathetha. I mean, I was upset when he got signed first,” Gorimbo told MMAmania.com in an exclusive interview.

“What’s funny is he got signed before me, but I was the guy that had more fights and everything. So, I was kind of like upset. He was 3-0 when he got signed to the UFC, and I wanted to make history to become the first Zimbabwean in the UFC, but I’ve got one more chance to make history on Saturday night.”

“I actually told [Blood Diamond] this, I spoke to him, and I told him, ‘Brother, don’t fight before I fight,’” Gorimbo continued. “Then he asked why, and I said to him, ‘because I’m meant to be the first Zimbabwean to win a fight in the UFC. You were the first to be signed, I’m going to be the Zimbabwean to win a fight in the UFC.’ And it’s gonna happen.”

The welterweight “Answer” is the latest African-born fighter to join UFC and with the promotion planning to go to Africa in the near future, it would make sense for Gorimbo to be a staple of the card.