Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S top mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters Themba Gorimbo and Sylvester Chipfumbu lost their respective fights in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Friday night.
The South African-based duo was fighting for the first-time in the UAE Warriors series, which attracts some of the best mixed martial artists from developed countries.
Chipfumbu, who was called in as a replacement for Ray Borg, the former UFC flyweight title challenger who withdraw after testing positive for Covid-19, lost to Brazilian Vinicius de Oliveira in a title fight.
It took just under four minutes for Oliveira to retain his UAE Warriors bantamweight title in the promotion’s 24th edition at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena.
The Brazilian dominated from the onset, throwing a barrage of punches at Chipfumbu before finishing off the Zimbabwean with a rear naked choke.
Gorimbo lost the undercard bill to another Brazilian Handesson Ferreira after dislocating a shoulder.
“I might need an operation to fix my shoulder or proper rehab but other than that I am good. Shoulder popped out 28 seconds into the fight and I fought through with it. I am still confident that I will be a champion in @ufc. I know I will come back. I have had setbacks way bigger than this in my life,” said Gorimbo. – @ZililoR
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