Themba Gorimbo has officially announced his retirement from mixed martial arts following his third straight UFC loss.
The 35-year-old welterweight confirmed the news in an emotional statement shared on social media, bringing an end to a journey that saw him rise from financial struggles to competing on the biggest stage in MMA.
“Thank you to UFC and everyone,” Gorimbo wrote on Instagram. “I dared to be someone and something and failed. Gave all I can in the sport and I am walking 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. It’s not easy but I’ve tried.
“Maybe I will make a comeback as a coach or manager someday but for now the focus will be my family.
“Thank you to everyone I’ve met on the journey and everyone who has helped me along the journey.
“I am officially retired from MMA as an athlete.”
Gorimbo’s retirement comes shortly after his split-decision loss to Jonathan Micallef at UFC Fight Night 275 in Perth, Australia. The defeat marked his third consecutive loss inside the Octagon.
Before the skid, Gorimbo had built momentum with four straight UFC wins after dropping his promotional debut to A.J. Fletcher in 2023.
During his rise, Gorimbo became one of the UFC’s most inspiring stories. After earning his first UFC victory, he revealed he only had $7 left in his bank account before the fight. Despite his financial struggles, he still planned to auction his fight gear to help fund a water project in Zimbabwe.
That story caught the attention of Dwayne Johnson, better known as “The Rock.” Johnson later surprised Gorimbo by buying him a house in Florida after learning the fighter had been living in a gym.
The emotional moment quickly went viral and turned Gorimbo into a fan favorite across the MMA community.
Inside the cage, Gorimbo’s momentum eventually slowed down. He suffered a first-round submission loss to Vicente Luque at UFC 310 before adding back-to-back defeats afterward.
The Zimbabwean fighter ends his professional MMA career with a 14-7 record, including a 4-4 run in the UFC.
Even though his dream of becoming UFC champion fell short, Gorimbo leaves the sport as one of Zimbabwe’s most recognizable MMA athletes and the first fighter from the country to secure a UFC victory.
