Jimmy Crute’s Journey: From Retirement to UFC 312

Jimmy Crute is set to face Rodolfo Bellato at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia. This marks Crute’s return to fighting after a brief retirement. The fight is on the main card of the event at Qudos Bank Arena and will stream on ESPN+.

Background

Jimmy Crute, an Australian light heavyweight fighter, briefly retired from MMA following a series of setbacks in his professional career. However, with the support and encouragement of his father, Gary Crute, he decided to return to the sport. Now, at 28 years old, Crute is looking to revitalize his career on home soil at UFC 312.

Retirement and Return

Crute’s decision to retire came after a loss to Alonzo Menifield at UFC 290 on July 8, 2023. This defeat marked his fourth consecutive fight without a win, consisting of three losses and one draw. His earlier loss against Misha Cirkunov also contributed to his decision. Crute was once an undefeated prospect with a 10-0 record, but his subsequent performance of 2 wins and 4 losses with one draw led to his retirement. His father played a crucial role in his return, convincing him not to end his career on a loss.

Crute shared that his father told him, “Not like this, mate,” and advised him to consider the decision before fully committing to retirement. This intervention proved vital in Crute’s decision to make a comeback.

UFC Career

Crute initially made a strong impact in the UFC, winning his first two fights against Paul Craig and Sam Alvey. These victories improved his record to 10-0 and established him as a promising prospect in the light heavyweight division. However, his career trajectory shifted after being submitted by Misha Cirkunov. He then secured wins against Michał Oleksiejczuk and Modestas Bukauskas, but suffered subsequent losses to Anthony Smith, Jamahal Hill, and Alonzo Menifield.

UFC 312 Matchup

At UFC 312, Crute faces Rodolfo Bellato, a Brazilian prospect. Bellato (12-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is on a four-fight win streak and is making his first appearance since December 2023, after recovering from an injury. He impressed on Dana White’s Contender Series and won his debut by stopping Ihor Potieria in the second round. Crute (12-4-1 MMA, 4-4-1 UFC) is looking for a win, being winless in his last four appearances with three losses and one draw. His last victory was against Modestas Bukauskas in October 2020.

Bellato is favored by oddsmakers, listed at -164, while Crute is at +134 via FanDuel.

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom notes that Crute has been cross-training at gyms like Bang Tao Muay Thai. Tom believes Crute is the more talented fighter and predicts Crute will control the grappling and secure a stoppage by Round 3. However, he also acknowledges the possibility of Bellato surviving the early pressure and making the fight difficult.

Fight Details

The Bellato vs. Crute fight is expected to start at approximately 10:40 p.m. ET and will stream on ESPN+.