UFC APEX – UFC welterweight Themba Gorimbo is fully aware of Ramiz Brahimaj’s grappling accolades, but he’s not impressed by them as he gets set to face him at UFC Vegas 92 on Saturday night.
“I saw like a lot of media, I mean recently this week, I saw a lot of people saying Ramiz got better grappling than I do. Ok cool, we’ll find out,” Gorimbo told reporters on Wednesday.
“I’m not here to be a grappler. I’m here to be the best welterweight that is in the UFC and that’s mixed martial arts. If it so happens that we are on the ground then he should be ready for me there. I’m not like other guys. My grappling is good.”
Gorimbo (12-4) has six submission victories on his pro record though none in the UFC just yet. He continued to talk about Brahimaj’s grappling.
“Yes he is a world champion in Jiu-Jitsu, but blue belt 2019. I did my research. He tried again in 2022. He didn’t even place. I know what I know and I did my research,” he said.
“At the end of the day it’s going to be me and Ramiz. What opinions and the people and whatever they say they can keep their opinions to themselves.When we step in the cage it’s me and Ramiz and that’s between us.”
His calm and determined demeanor gave way just minutes later when he revealed that his wrestling coach’s mother had passed away just a couple of hours before media day.
Themba Gorimbo revealed that just hours before media day his coach’s mother passed away from cancer. Themba burst into tears as he pledged to win for his coach. #UFCVegas92 pic.twitter.com/gUjJ7XgSAU
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) May 16, 2024
“All I know is I’m going to win in spectacular fashion for my coach whose mother just died like two hours ago. He’s been here with me for 8 weeks. He tells me his mother is sick with cancer,” Gorimbo said with tears flowing from his eyes.
“He never told me it was that bad. I just said to him okay man after the fight we go back to South Africa together. I didn’t have a plan to go there, but I was going to go with him to see his mother.”
Now filled with something more to fight for Gorimbo says he’ll win this fight for his coach.
“He sacrificed past eight weeks of his life. Obviously I pay him to be here helping me get better with my wrestling and stuff, but I cannot bring his mother back,” he said.
“I’m going to win for him.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Themba Gorimbo above. He takes on Ramiz Brahimaj at UFC Vegas 92 on Saturday night.
