Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo
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THE country’s top mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Themba Gorimbo is upbeat ahead of his second Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fight against Takashi Sato, with the Zimbabwean pugilist declaring himself ready to show off.
Gorimbo, who has been in camp training in Miami, United States of America for a month, will square off with the Japanese at the UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada on May 20.
The Zimbabwean fighter, who lost his UFC debut fight in Las Vegas in February where he registered a second round defeat to America’s Ashton Fletcher, has been training under renowned coaches Daniel Valverde as well as Cesar Carnero at Miami’s MMA Masters.
Optimistic ahead of the fight, Gorimbo expressed his gratitude to the duo of Valverde and Carnero as well as gym mates for helping him prepare for Sato’s fight.
“My life is about to change for the better. On the 20th of May, 2023 I will show up and show off. God has had his plans for me and they are to succeed. I feel this feeling every single day. It’s a feeling I cannot explain, it’s a feeling that I pray everyone gets to feel.
“Thank you @colbycovmma for helping me putting it all together and my coaches @danielvalverde11 and Cesar Carnero, I can’t thank you enough. I am grateful.
“Also thank you to all the teammates who put their bodies on the line every day to get me ready for this show. Thank you to everyone who got involved to get me here. Thank you for the good energy,” wrote Gorimbo on his official social media accounts.
Gorimbo, the second Zimbabwean to sign for the lucrative UFC after New Zealand-based Mike “Blood Diamond” Mathetha has also received tips from prominent MMA manager Jason House in preparation for the Sato fight. House is the chief executive officer of Iridium Sports Agency, which boasts of representing 100 fighters under the UFC contract.
Sato, who has 22 professional fights, 15 wins and six defeats ,has been at the UFC for longer than Gorimbo.
The Japanese cage fighter made his UFC debut on April 27, 2019 when he registered a technical knockout on Ben Saunders through punches and elbows.
Sato has three UFC wins and four defeats.
Sato heads to Gorimbo’s fight smarting from three consecutive defeats against Miguel Baeza (November 28, 2020), Gunnar Nelson (March 19, 2022) and Bryan Battle (August 6, 2022).
On the other hand, Gorimbo has had 14 professional fights, 10 wins and four defeats.. — @ZililoR.
Online Reporter