LAS VEGAS – Themba Gorimbo got here out victorious Saturday at UFC Combat Evening 241 to high off an emotional week.
On the principle card on the UFC Apex, Gorimbo (13-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) defeated Ramiz Brahimaj (10-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC), however did so with a heavy coronary heart after the dying of his coach’s mom. The tragedy catalyzed unwavering dedication and energy.
“I don’t suppose he took me down,” Gorimbo instructed MMA Junkie and different reporters at a post-fight information convention. “I feel each time he tried to take me down, I remembered my coach and the sacrifice that he made. I stated, ‘Nope.’ I remembered the sacrifice that he made. That’s why he didn’t take me down. Each time, he didn’t take me down. My takedown protection was strong. I took him down. I might’ve finished extra if I wished to. However for this struggle, I used to be working extra on defensive wrestling than attacking wrestling. As a result of I wished to knock him out. What I’m doing is being grateful for the win. That’s a very powerful factor.”
Gorimbo wished a spectacular end however didn’t get it. Since he defeated Brahimaj by unanimous resolution, Gorimbo didn’t suppose he was ready to name his subsequent shot. As a substitute, he outlined a roadmap of areas for his subsequent fights.
Gorimbo plans to struggle on the UFC Apex once more, after which maybe he’ll be aligned to headline the primary UFC occasion in Africa. He considers himself the best candidate for the place.
“I’ve heard the rumors they’re going with a Combat Evening first once they do go,” Gorimbo stated. “At a Combat Evening, there’s no titles wanted. So I’ve to make my manner up and major occasion an Apex present. From there, I’ll major occasion the primary African present as a result of I’m an enormous inspiration to the African fighters due to the place I come from. I earned my spot to be right here. I didn’t have something. I labored my ass off to be right here. I sacrificed. I nagged my supervisor every day to be right here within the UFC. If an African youngster can perhaps take a web page out of my story, to attempt to make it right here, I’m the proper man to ask. In case you take heed to me and also you attempt to do what I do, you could be up there or simply land within the UFC.
“I really feel like I want to try this to encourage a whole lot of different African children. I respect the blokes who got here earlier than me, Izzy (Adesanya), Kamaru (Usman), the historical past he made, (Francis) Ngannou, the historical past he made, Dricus (Du Plessis) with the championship that he has. I respect that. However in terms of the man who can really relate much more than something, I’m not disrespecting the blokes, however I come from the gutters of Africa, the gutters of Africa. I can perhaps flip a web page and attain the brand new market the UFC wants to achieve.”
In Gorimbo’s thoughts there’s a distinction between a task mannequin and an inspiration. He considers himself the latter, however not the previous.
“I’m not a man that could be a position mannequin,” Gorimbo stated. “I’m simply Themba Gorimbo. That’s what I’m pleased with firstly. … Once I sit at residence, earlier than sleeping at residence in my mattress, I mirror, and I don’t make the identical errors once more. So I’m not a task mannequin, however I need to be an inspiration and I feel I’m. … I’m inspiration greater than a task mannequin.”
Whereas no clear timeline has been introduced by the UFC for its Africa debut, firm CEO Dana White has repeatedly expressed curiosity in an occasion there. In December, he revealed the promotion expects the primary UFC occasion on that continent to happen in both South Africa, Rwanda, or Nigeria.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Combat Evening 241.
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