‘Cinderella Man’ Gorimbo takes huge step in chase for UFC strap

ZIMBABWE’S UFC welterweight star, Themba Gorimbo, is one of the most driven athletes. He cuts no corners and does what is needed to fulfil his dreams.

When he senses a stumbling block, unhappiness, or a road to mediocrity, he quickly pivots and recalibrates his system to seek the best possible route to his destination, which is to be the king of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

It is with that mindset that the Bikita, Masvingo star, who is now on a three-fight win streak, has opted to make some changes around his training and fight camps to better his chances of fighting for the UFC welterweight strap one day.

In an exclusive with Independent Media and MzansiMMA, the Miami-based athlete confirmed that while he and his family will still stay in Miami, USA, his fight camps will be held in Las Vegas.

“I will be doing part of my training at Xtreme Couture for the sake of my career because I have won three fights in a row, and I am in a good position, but now I have to unlock a new chapter,” said Gorimbo, who beat USA’s Ramiz Brahimaj via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night: Barboza v Murphy in Las Vegas on May 18.

Xtreme Couture is one of the most popular gyms in the world and home to some of the biggest stars, including Francis Ngannou, Sean Strickland and Jiri Prochazka.

For Gorimbo, training with the best is what he now needs to level up.

“I am the only UFC fighter currently training at MMA Masters, and yes, it was good for me up to this stage now, but I want to be the champion, so I have to make the right decisions. When I recently went to Xtreme Couture, I trained with people on the same level as me. I realised that Sean Strickland (former UFC middleweight champion) is as crazy as I am, and I saw that his mindset is about work. I want to be around a guy like that because our mindsets are alike, and we can push each other.”

Gorimbo confirmed that his decision to train in Las Vegas will be beneficial in many other aspects as he will also have access to the services offered at the UFC Performance Institute.

“What I’m doing now is a strategic move. I will also be training at the UFC Performance Institute, and there I will have access to free training, free recovery programmes, free food … everything for free. Also, one of the UFC brass has allowed me to use their very, very nice house while I’m in Vegas.”

Gorimbo said this move makes a lot of sense in many ways for him and most of all, it’s driven by his need to be happy and free.

“I have not been happy for a long time, and now I need to be happy, I need to come out as me. Currently, I’m not in a position where I can make my own decisions, I have to conform to a style and way and that is not comfortable for me. I don’t do well in a circumstance where I’m boxed in. I want to train when I want, I’m a crazy guy. My mindset is to train and be around people who don’t judge me for who I am and my training schedule. I need to be free and work, work, work.”

With two unanimous decision wins, one stoppage win, and one loss in his four UFC fights thus far, Gorimbo placed a huge emphasis on delivering exciting fights and performances that will get him noticed and closer to the golden strap.

“At the end of the day, you have to go out there and finish fights. I have to be in entertaining fights. That is my goal. I know my grappling is next level, I can see everything coming, but is it enough to pay the bills, does it bring more people to your fights? So now, even when I am grappling, I am always going for the submission. My mindset has changed completely. I am going for the finish. I will always have wrestling as my plan B. It’s time to switch on and showcase my personality in all aspects. I have been holding back a lot,” said Gorimbo, who knows time waits for nobody, especially in the fight game.

“I am 33. if I want to get the biggest opportunities, I have to be in Las Vegas to be on call and know that I am one minute away should there be fight cancellations. That is how you get the big fight opportunities.”

While Gorimbo will continue training with South African wrestling coach Sloane Goosen, he confirmed that he will be training at Xtreme Couture four to five times a week.

“You need big partners for wrestling and grappling, so that will be done there (Xtreme Couture). I will also be building my own thing around myself and the guys around me, and I am getting some coaches to help me excel.

“It’s time for me to get that belt now, and I will do everything to be ready for the big challenges. Wanting to go from one team to another is not the prettiest decision, but it’s been a long thought process for me. I can see myself becoming a champion, and sometimes things need to come with more sacrifices.

“So me going all-in means that I am going to seclude myself from the world, be in Las Vegas, away from my family, and just work and train and wait for the next big opportunity, seize the moment, and become the star of the show and take it all.

“Mark my words, when ‘Themba Chapter 2’ comes out, I am going to spark a lot of people, just watch. This is the next journey of the Cinderella Man.”