Gorimbo overcomes flu to register maiden UFC victory in Las Vegas
SOUTH Africa-based Zimbabwean Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) star Themba “The Answer” Gorimbo has revealed how he overcame a bout of flu to register his first victory in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) after beating Japan’s Takashi Sato at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Gorimbo, who was aiming to break his duck after losing on his debut early this year, finally got it right when he defeated Sato via unanimous decision.
The judges scored the match (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) in Gorimbo’s favour.
The win was sweet redemption for Gorimbo following a guillotine choke loss to USA’s AJ Fletcher in his UFC debut earlier this year.
The former EFC Welterweight champion Zimbabwe’s Sportsperson of the Year posted a video on social media stating that he had been battling a bout of flu just moments before his fight with Sato.
“Hey guys, quick confession so that if you don’t know, now you will know. I woke up at 3am this morning (Saturday morning) with a terrible flu” Gorimbo said.
“I had an insanely painful headache throbbing on the front and top of my face. My nose, it’s completely blocked. I can’t even breathe properly. I was so sad and worried and even thought of calling my manager to explain the situation, but I had to fortify my mind. I ordered medicine online and had it delivered to my room.
“I didn’t even want to tell my coaches, but they figured it out, and they realised I was sick. But I didn’t say anything, either. I just told them my voice was different. I only told them at the end of the fight. I was like ‘eish, I have such a bad flu’. But here we are, unfortunately, I am going to infect some people on the plane back home. I am sorry,” said Gorimbo on Instagram. — NewZimbabwe
