Vusumuzi Dube
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S 2019 Sportsperson of the Year winner, Themba Gorimbo says the next time he sets foot in the country, he will be a champion of the Ultimate Fight Championship (UFC).
Gorimbo will make his debut at the lucrative Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the United States of America in December.
The Zimbabwean fighter is edging closer to realising his American dream and becoming a world champion after securing the USA visa on Friday.
Gorimbo, who is based in South Africa spent last week in Harare processing the American visa which will enable him to travel for his debut cage fight.
Having cleared the visa hurdle, Gorimbo will now turn his maximum focus on preparing for his first fight at the UFC, the global ultimate stage for mixed martial arts.
An elated Gorimbo who spent the week training at a Borrowdale Gym will go through his preparations for the December fight in South Africa.
“American visa done, expect target confirmation anytime now. The Answer is coming. Before you start wondering, I’ll not be relocating to the USA. I will do it from South Africa. Next time I set my foot in Zimbabwe I will have the @ufc belt,” said Gorimbo.
The South Africa-based fighter signed for UFC in August after his unanimous decision win against Brazilian Julio Rodrigues in a Fury Fighting Championship in the USA. Gorimbo, who will know his opponent for the debut UFC fight is expected to trade leather at one of the three advertised dates for December which are 3, 10 and 17.
The scheduled UFC events for December 2022 include UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs Hermansson (Amway Center, Orlando Florida, USA) on December 3, UFC 282: Prochazka vs Teixeira 2 (T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA) on December 10 and UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs Strickland at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 17.
Gorimbo is the second Zimbabwean after Mike Mathetha to sign up for the UFC.
Mathetha is based in New Zealand and trains with the likes of UFC Middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya. Follow on Twitter @ZililoR
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter