'I’m going to try and bash him' - Jimmy Crute to fight former title challenger Anthony Smith

Brendan Bradford

'I’m going to try and bash him' - Jimmy Crute to fight former title challenger Anthony Smith image

"He's a bad mother f***er."

That's Jimmy Crute's blunt assessment of his UFC 261 opponent Anthony Smith. 

But that won't change the 25-year-old Victorian's approach when he steps into the Octagon opposite the former light-heavyweight title challenger on April 24 (April 25 in Australia). 

With two first-round stoppage wins in his last two fights, Crute's objectives are clear and simple. 

"As much as I respect him, and as much as I’m a fan of Anthony Smith’s, I’m going to try and bash him just as bad as if I hated him,” Crute told Sporting News.

“I could hate you, or I could love you, but if you sign a contract to fight me, I will try and bash you as hard as I can.”

Crute was deep in training camp to fight knockout artist Johnny Walker at UFC 260 on March 27 when he received word the Brazilian was out through injury. 

The Bendigo-born Crute has struggled to get opponents in the past, and didn't hesitate in agreeing to fight Smith, who he says is a trickier opponent than Walker. 

“I wouldn’t say he’s more dangerous, but more of a puzzle and definitely more skilled,” he said.  

“The thing with Johnny Walker is if I felt troubled, I could always rush a takedown. I can’t rush takedowns with Anthony Smith.

“He can latch onto a neck or catch you out. Johnnie Walker’s not going to catch anyone in a submission.

“I’d probably have a bit more fun sanding up striking, but he’s a lot smarter than Johnnie Walker, so I’ve gotta make sure I don’t run into any traps.

“With Johnny, it’s just big cannons that have the ability to put you out, but Smith just has the ability to wear you down and by the third round you’re getting tired and that’s where he start elevating.

“I need to make sure I don’t buy into him playing possum.”

The change in opponent was one thing, but the change in fight date also posed its own issues.  

A few years ago, he would have kept up his training intensity, worn himself out and gone into the rescheduled bout overtrained and under-strength. 

Now more mature, he acknowleged the need to step back and reassess his approach before focusing on Smith. 

“The hardest thing about it is not overdoing it, so when it was cancelled, I just needed to take some time,” he said.  

“You’d think if one fight gets cancelled and you get another one, you’d ramp up, but it was the opposite. I pulled away from training a little bit.

“I had some cheat meals and made sure I was ready for the next 10 weeks of training I had. It’s just trying to balance not pulling back too much and not going too hard.

“Two years ago I would be well overtrained, I’d be sick, I’d be terrible right now and I’d still be trying to push through. Right now though I feel like a million bucks.”

Still just 25, Crute has banked $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus checks in his last two fights, and wants to work his way towards a title shot by the end of the year. 

“I’m not looking past Anthony Smith, first and foremost. This is the one thing I’m focusing on, but the goal is to be the number one contender by the end of the year,” he said.  

“That’s the only thought – number one contender. But there’s no other fight other than him. I’ve got a hell of a challenge ahead of me. I’m not oblivious to that. But I expect to pass this test and pass it impressively.

“The top five is tough. It’s so tough. From Anthony Smith up it’s just a bunch of beasts and I’m looking forward to a few good challenges.”

 

 

Brendan Bradford