‘That’s tough’ – UFC fighter Themba Gorimbo says family celebrated brutal UFC defeat that left Joe Rogan stunned
Themba Gorimbo has revealed several family members celebrated his loss at UFC 310. Gorimbo was submitted by Vicente Luque on December 8 in the first round of their prelims bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The defeat was only Gorimbo’s second in his UFC careerGetty Less than a minute into his fight, the Zimbabwean was rocked with a right hand, followed by a left, which allowed Luque to jump on a rare anaconda choke. Luque then expertly rolled the 33-year-old, tightening the choke, and Gorimbo didn’t even get the chance to tap as he was instantly put out cold. Gorimbo was finished in 52 seconds of the first round, making it the fastest anaconda joke in UFC history. The choke was so precise that it left UFC commentator Joe Rogan stunned as he branded it a ‘statement’ from Brazil’s Luque. “When I go online, one of my cousins – I can’t speak his name, but he messaged me the day after I lost this last fight,” Gorimbo said on The Pivot Podcast. “Some of my cousins were celebrating my loss. They were all celebrating my loss. “He sent me a video of them in a place where we were 15 years ago, this small circle in Danun. “It’s a slum – when I first arrived in South Africa I was living in a place called Danun. “These cousins of mine were celebrating my loss. Do you know how much that eats you?” Gorimbo has a remarkable background, having been orphaned as a 13-year-old before growing up as an illegal worker in Zimbabwe’s Blood Diamond trade three years later. Gorimbo was once surprised by The Rock at his gym in Miamitwitter:@therock Who proceeded to gift him a house for his family@thembagorimbo_mma - instagram He recalls one time almost dying from numerous German Shepherd bite wounds after policemen came after his syndicate cousin. In May 2023, Gorimbo became the first Zimbabwean to win in the UFC, after beating MMA veteran Takashi Sato, bouncing back from his debut defeat to AJ Fletcher three months prior. Ahead of the fight, he revealed that he had just $7.49 (£6.04) in his bank account, which sparked interest from Hollywood actor and WWE star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson The Rock, whose production company is called Seven Bucks due to him having $7 after he was cut from the Canadian Football League almost 30 years ago, wanted to do something special for Gorimbo after spotting him online. In a viral video, the 52-year-old took Gorimbo to a ‘friend’s house’ before handing him the keys and revealing the property was a gift for his family. Gorimbo has since asserted he believes the act of kindness from Johnson was a ‘gift’ from God. Gorimbo said The Rock’s kindness was a ‘gift’ from GodThe Pivot Podcast “Because all I do is try to do better for everybody,” Gorimbo added. “I might not directly help you, but maybe I want to build a well for the community. “Then one person gets angry: ‘Why did you build the well close to this guy’s house and not this person’s house? “If someone messages you and says: ‘Give me $5,000 – where will I get (that)? “People think that I’m in the UFC, and I’m a millionaire. I’m not. Maybe one day I will be. “But it’s the reality that I’m not and I can’t afford to do that…when you have your own family members celebrating your loss – that’s tough.” Gorimbo was on a four-fight winning streak, securing wins over Sato, Pete Rodriguez, Ramiz Brahimaj and Niko Price, prior to his loss to Luque. He added that he felt ‘embarrassed’ after being submitted by Luque and recalled walking backstage and crying in what was his first fight in front of a big crowd. Luque, 33, is the No.14 ranked UFC welterweight and is likely to take on a top 10 contender in his next bout.
Themba Gorimbo has revealed several family members celebrated his loss at UFC 310.
Gorimbo was submitted by Vicente Luque on December 8 in the first round of their prelims bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Less than a minute into his fight, the Zimbabwean was rocked with a right hand, followed by a left, which allowed Luque to jump on a rare anaconda choke.
Luque then expertly rolled the 33-year-old, tightening the choke, and Gorimbo didn’t even get the chance to tap as he was instantly put out cold.
Gorimbo was finished in 52 seconds of the first round, making it the fastest anaconda joke in UFC history.
The choke was so precise that it left UFC commentator Joe Rogan stunned as he branded it a ‘statement’ from Brazil’s Luque.
“When I go online, one of my cousins – I can’t speak his name, but he messaged me the day after I lost this last fight,” Gorimbo said on The Pivot Podcast.
“Some of my cousins were celebrating my loss. They were all celebrating my loss.
“He sent me a video of them in a place where we were 15 years ago, this small circle in Danun.
“It’s a slum – when I first arrived in South Africa I was living in a place called Danun.
“These cousins of mine were celebrating my loss. Do you know how much that eats you?”
Gorimbo has a remarkable background, having been orphaned as a 13-year-old before growing up as an illegal worker in Zimbabwe’s Blood Diamond trade three years later.
He recalls one time almost dying from numerous German Shepherd bite wounds after policemen came after his syndicate cousin.
In May 2023, Gorimbo became the first Zimbabwean to win in the UFC, after beating MMA veteran Takashi Sato, bouncing back from his debut defeat to AJ Fletcher three months prior.
Ahead of the fight, he revealed that he had just $7.49 (£6.04) in his bank account, which sparked interest from Hollywood actor and WWE star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
The Rock, whose production company is called Seven Bucks due to him having $7 after he was cut from the Canadian Football League almost 30 years ago, wanted to do something special for Gorimbo after spotting him online.
In a viral video, the 52-year-old took Gorimbo to a ‘friend’s house’ before handing him the keys and revealing the property was a gift for his family.
Gorimbo has since asserted he believes the act of kindness from Johnson was a ‘gift’ from God.
“Because all I do is try to do better for everybody,” Gorimbo added.
“I might not directly help you, but maybe I want to build a well for the community.
“Then one person gets angry: ‘Why did you build the well close to this guy’s house and not this person’s house?
“If someone messages you and says: ‘Give me $5,000 – where will I get (that)?
“People think that I’m in the UFC, and I’m a millionaire. I’m not. Maybe one day I will be.
“But it’s the reality that I’m not and I can’t afford to do that…when you have your own family members celebrating your loss – that’s tough.”
Gorimbo was on a four-fight winning streak, securing wins over Sato, Pete Rodriguez, Ramiz Brahimaj and Niko Price, prior to his loss to Luque.
He added that he felt ‘embarrassed’ after being submitted by Luque and recalled walking backstage and crying in what was his first fight in front of a big crowd.
Luque, 33, is the No.14 ranked UFC welterweight and is likely to take on a top 10 contender in his next bout.
