Richard Shumba
Zimbabwean mixed martial arts fighter Themba Gorimbo has announced his retirement from professional MMA, concluding a career that saw him rise from hardship to compete on the global stage in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
The 35-year-old welterweight confirmed his decision in an emotional statement posted on social media following his recent defeat to Jonathan Micallef at UFC Perth earlier this month.
In his message, Gorimbo expressed that his lifelong ambition had been to become a UFC champion.
However, after failing to achieve that goal, he felt it was time to step away from the sport.
“My dream was to be a UFC champion, and if I cannot be that, I am going to walk away from the sport,” he wrote.
“I gave all I could to the sport, and now I am walking away.
It’s not easy, but I’ve tried.
The Zimbabwean fighter retires after 16 years in professional MMA, ending with a record of 14 wins and seven losses.
His retirement follows what he described as a physically and emotionally exhausting final chapter in his fighting career.
“Right now, everything hurts.
I
pushed the envelope and tried my best.
Now I can rest and relax,” Gorimbo shared.
The fighter admitted that his final bout against Micallef made him realize his competitive edge was waning.
“I trained very hard for my last fight, was focused, and still lost.
I didn’t feel stronger or faster than my opponent, which used to be my advantage,” he said.
Gorimbo mentioned that he sensed before the fight that it could mark the end of his career.
“Going into my last fight, I made sure to live life to the fullest during Fight Week because something told me it could be my last time,” he wrote.
Following his defeat, Gorimbo reached out to UFC matchmake Sean Shelby to express his gratitude for the opportunity to compete in the organization.
“This sport is about winning and performances, and I was failing to do that,” he said.
Gorimbo became one of Zimbabwe’s most recognizable combat sport athletes after breaking into the UFC despite growing up in poverty and facing years of struggle early in his career.
His story gained global attention in 2023 when Hollywood actor Dwayne Johnson bought him a house in Miami after learning that Gorimbo had once survived with only a few dollars to his name while chasing his dream.
Despite his retirement, Gorimbo hopes that his journey will inspire young African athletes to pursue their ambitions regardless of the obstacles they face.
“To any young African athletes out there, follow your dreams and give it your all.
You never know where you might land,” he advised.
Gorimbo also plans to focus on family life and raising
