WELTERWEIGHT Themba Gorimbo put up a subdued performance but still secured a third successive win in the Ultimate Fighting Championship with a unanimous decision victory over Ramiz Brahimaj in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
The Zimbabwean mixed martial arts athlete was adjudged 30-27 winner in all three sets as he dedicated victory to his coach, who lost his mother back in South Africa.
“Thanks to my coach for winning this, but to the crowd that is watching, I’m sorry that wasn’t the performance I expected.
“I wanted to win this fight spectacularly, but I thank God for the victory,” he said during a post-match interview.
Gorimbo triggered social media ridicule after crying in a pre-match press conference and he used Saturday night’s meeting with the media to explain the antics.
“To the guys tuning in online criticising me, let me just say, I’m emotional because my wrestling coach lost his mother.
“He has been here with me for eight weeks; I thought his mother was going to be fine.
“I robbed him of the last moments with his mother, that is why I felt so guilty and cried the way I cried.
“I robbed him of his mother because he was supposed to go back to South Africa on the 22nd of April, but I insisted we go together after the fight, not knowing our mother would pass away.
“So, when you see me cry with all your jadi jadi (criticism) in the comment section, look yourself in the mirror (because) death is going to visit you one day.” — Sports Reporter/Wires.



