Themba Gorimbo is done fighting after a three-fight UFC skid and a final split-decision loss to Jonathan Micallef at UFC Fight Night 275 in Perth, Australia.
The UFC welterweight announced his retirement through Instagram after falling to 14-7 as a professional. Gorimbo competed from 2013 to 2026, entered the UFC in 2023, and became the first Zimbabwean fighter to win inside the Octagon.
Gorimbo wrote that his goal was to become UFC champion, and that falling short of that mark pushed him to walk away from active competition.
“Thank you to UFC and everyone,” Gorimbo wrote. “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 post is below.
His UFC run started rough when A.J. Fletcher submitted him by guillotine choke in February 2023. Gorimbo answered with four straight wins, beating Takashi Sato by unanimous decision, stopping Pete Rodriguez in 32 seconds, outworking Ramiz Brahimaj, and then taking a decision over veteran Niko Price.
Gorimbo Leaves With A Historic UFC Win For Zimbabwe
The final stretch went the other way. Vicente Luque submitted Gorimbo with an anaconda choke at UFC 310 in December 2024. Jeremiah Wells beat him by unanimous decision in November 2025. Micallef then edged him by split decision on May 2, 2026, which became Gorimbo’s final fight.
Before the UFC, Gorimbo built his career across EFC, UAE Warriors, Fury FC, and other regional promotions. He won the EFC welterweight title in 2019 and defended it in 2020 before eventually reaching the UFC.
Gorimbo’s name also traveled beyond fight results after his first UFC win. He said he had only $7 in his bank account, which caught Dwayne Johnson’s attention. Johnson later surprised him at MMA Masters in Miami and bought him a house. MiddleEasy previously covered Johnson visiting Gorimbo at MMA Masters and The Rock gifting Gorimbo a house.
Gorimbo also used his platform for projects in Zimbabwe, including boreholes in his home region. His retirement statement leaves open a future role as a coach or manager, but his time as an active MMA fighter is over by his own words.
