Thanks to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Themba Gorimbo is winning outside the cage, having been gifted a house by the wrestling superstar. He was winning inside the cage as well on Saturday.
At UFC Vegas 85, Gorimbo was paired up with Pete Rodriguez, a.ka. “Dead Game,” with both men looking for their second straight win inside the octagon. It didn’t take long for the fight to be over, and it was Themba Gorimbo putting on a short, impressive display.
Gorimbo connected early with a heavy punch, an overhand right that left Rodriguez stunned. The UFC’s only Zimbabwean fighter then followed up with a number of ground strikes that left Rodriguez dazed, with the ref diving in to wave things off and save “Dead Game” from further damage.
As pointed out on the broadcast, Gorimbo called the first round finish ahead of the fight. In his post-fight interview, he thanked The Rock for changing his life. “You changed my life in a better way, and I’m going to change someone’s life every single day in a better way,” Gorimbo exclaimed following the fight.
Later, he’s added that “With a dream and hard work, you can go all the way to the top,” then asked the UFC’s matchmakers for some big fights. “Mr. Sean Shelby, I want the biggest opportunities,” said Gorimbo, stating his goal was to win gold in 2024 no matter who had the belt.
Official Result: Themba Gorimbo def. Pete Rodriguez by TKO (strikes), Round 1, 0:32
