Three straight UFC defeats would break many fighters. For Zimbabwe’s Themba Gorimbo, they have instead triggered a public vow to fight harder, against opponents, criticism and growing doubts over his future in mixed martial arts.
By Advent Shoko
The Zimbabwean UFC welterweight says quitting is not on his mind despite a painful run of losses that has slowed what once looked like a fast-rising journey toward the division’s rankings.
After entering the UFC with momentum and building a reputation as one of Africa’s most inspiring MMA stories, Gorimbo now finds himself at a crossroads in the toughest period of his professional career.
But the 35-year-old insists the story is far from over.
“Imagine losing not one, not two but three in a row,” Gorimbo wrote in an emotional social media post.
“They will call you all kinds of names. It’s my duty to keep going. It’s my decision to stop.
“Can’t let anyone that wasn’t there when you started tell you when to stop.”
The post quickly drew reactions across the MMA community, with fans divided between concern over his recent performances and admiration for his determination to continue competing at the highest level of combat sports.
Gorimbo’s latest setback came earlier this month in Australia, where he lost a split decision to Australian fighter Jonathan Micallef at UFC Fight Night in Perth. The defeat extended a losing streak that has dramatically slowed his ambitions of climbing into the UFC welterweight rankings.
Before the Australia defeat, Gorimbo had suffered a unanimous decision loss to Jeremiah Wells in late 2025.
The difficult run began in devastating fashion at UFC 310 in December 2024, when experienced Brazilian fighter Vicente Luque submitted him via anaconda choke just 52 seconds into the opening round.
The losses marked a sharp turn for a fighter who had previously built strong momentum inside the octagon.
Before the skid, Gorimbo had won four of his previous five UFC fights, defeating Takashi Sato, Pete Rodriguez, Ramiz Brahimaj and veteran fighter Niko Price. At the time, many observers believed the Zimbabwean was only a few victories away from breaking into the top conversation in the welterweight division.
Instead, questions are now emerging over what adjustments may be needed for him to revive his UFC career.
Some analysts believe Gorimbo may need tactical improvements in defensive grappling and overall fight management against elite-level opponents, while others feel the physical and mental demands of the UFC schedule may be catching up with the veteran fighter.
Yet adversity has long been part of Gorimbo’s journey.
Long before reaching the UFC, the Zimbabwean openly spoke about growing up in poverty and struggling through difficult periods while chasing his dream abroad. His story of resilience helped him build a strong following both in Zimbabwe and internationally, with fans viewing him as more than just another fighter on the UFC roster.
That personal history may explain why Gorimbo believes setbacks in MMA should not define a career.
“MMA is a beautiful sport where losses don’t really define you like boxing,” he wrote.
“Biggest stars in MMA are those who failed and made the biggest turnover of that page. Charles Oliveira, Conor McGregor to mention a few.”
The fighter added that major changes would now be needed both inside and outside the cage if he is to rebuild his momentum.
“So that being said, I have to create the most incredibly powerful inspiring story in combat sports history. But lots have to change within and beyond,” he said.
In mixed martial arts, careers can shift quickly. A single victory can revive momentum, rebuild confidence and push a fighter back into contention.
For Gorimbo, the road back may now be tougher than ever. But if his career has shown anything so far, it is that the Zimbabwean has rarely stopped fighting when the odds were stacked against him.
Famba Wezhira!
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