Themba Gorimbo only needed 32 seconds to get his first UFC finish.
Gorimbo faced Pete Rodriguez in a welterweight preliminary bout at Saturday’s UFC Vegas 85 event at the APEX. As Rodriguez was throwing a left hand, Gorimbo countered with a super fast right hand over the top that echoed throughout the building and dropped his opponent. Gorimbo followed up with some ground-and-pound before the fight was waved off via TKO in the opening frame.
Check out video of the finish below.
Themba Gorimbo delivered on his promise of a first-round KO #UFCVegas85
(via @espnmma) pic.twitter.com/N7NcsbGkxG
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) February 3, 2024
It was also revealed by the commentary team that Gorimbo envisioned a first-round knockout, and he certainly delivered with his first finish in nearly three years.
Following the victory, Gorimbo shouted out Dwayne Johnson, better known as “The Rock,” who has formed a relationship with the UFC welterweight, buying him a home in Florida and offering a sponsorship deal through Johnson’s ZOA Energy company. Gorimbo then predicted he would become welterweight champion by the end of the year.
Rodriguez is now 1-2 in the UFC with a pair of first-round stoppage losses, with his lone win coming via knockout against Mike Jackson.