As the UFC 310 approaches, Themba Gorimbo is acutely aware of his lucky position. It came as a surprise when he was picked to step in as a replacement for Nick Diaz, set to battle against Vicente Luque in the preliminaries of the upcoming Saturday event, happening at the esteemed T-Mobile Arena. Matches will be aired on pay-per-view, ESPN2, and ESPN+.
This presents an extraordinary chance to Gorimbo. Although he is currently unranked, being able to face a constant competitor like Luque, currently positioned at No. 14 in the UFC welterweight rankings, is an opportunity of a lifetime.
Gorimbo sees this as the first milestone in his journey to his ultimate aspiration – securing a UFC championship. ‘It feels surreal to be in this position,’ shared Gorimbo. ‘Dreams and hard work brought me here. This is my reality now.’
Despite not being the original choice for the Luque vs. Diaz match, his mental visualization of this moment made it a reality. When the opportunity arose due to Diaz’s withdrawal, there were other possibilities–yet, it was Themba Gorimbo who emerged as the final choice.
‘I stand here today, knowing that come Saturday, I will be recognized as a ranked contestant.’ The magnitude of reaching this career milestone was not lost on Gorimbo. He went on to say, ‘I’m finally on the path of achieving what I’ve always dreamt of – the UFC welterweight championship.’
Gorimbo extended his gratitude to Luque, his challenger. He empathetically noted, ‘Luque didn’t really have to agree to this match. There’s little at stake for him in this bout, and yet he will face me in the ring this Saturday.’
The sands of the hourglass are running down, Gorimbo knows he has to penetrate Luque’s defenses and emerge victorious. Not just because it’s his objective, but because he confidently believes that he will.
He especially credits Luque for offering him a platform to rise in ranks. Themba Gorimbo, in the middle of a four-win hot-streak, seize this as an occasion to notch up his fourth success of the current season.
Gorimbo holds genuine reverence for Luque, ‘Luque deserves my respect. I feel deeply about him, as well as the contributions he has made in this field.’ Unfortunately, their clash is inevitable, bounded by the profession they’re in.
Despite the challenges ahead, Gorimbo is certain about one thing: Victory is his. ‘Just an unfortunate predicament that we have to clash. But I’ll persevere and attain victory.’ His confidence, radiant and unwavering, sets the stage for an intense and exciting match.