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Sports Reporter
SOUTH Africa-based Zimbabwean lightweight cage fighter Thamba Gorimbo’s five-match unbeaten run was brought to a halt on Saturday night at Carnival City in Johannesburg where he lost to Leon Mynhardt in a title bout.

Mynhardt successfully defended his belt against a resilient Gorimbo in a match broadcast live on pay-per-view television station SuperSport.

The Masvingo-born pugilist shot early in the first round, which led to several close but unsuccessful attempts at an ankle lock.

Gorimbo took Mynhardt’s back late in the first round, but the champion’s power allowed him to break his opponent’s grip relatively easily before the bell.

The fight intensified in the second round as Gorimbo managed to land a vicious overhand right that rocked Mynhardt.

Gorimbo’s decision to shoot directly after landing the punch was the wrong move as the champion saw an opportunity to finish off the Zimbabwean, who had left his neck exposed in the tussle. Mynhardt earned himself a slick guillotine submission in the process.

The Zimbabwean wrestler is confident of bouncing back to winning ways in his next fight.

Gorimbo, 24, made his EFC debut in June 2013 beating Sydney Makgolo and went on to register his second victory against Juan Lubbe in August 2013.

The Zimbabwean fighter went on to cap his 2013 year with a December win over Chimmy van Winkel.