If the number of Aussies to watch in the UFC was not enough, another has just been added.
Bendigo’s Jimmy Crute has just earned himself a UFC contract after picking up a first-round TKO win on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender series.
The fight started with Crute coming out hard from the opening bell clearly trying to put his opponent away early to impress UFC President Dana White. Four minutes into the opening round Crute found the opening he was looking for, landing a left straight that left his opponent on wobbly legs which forced the ref to jump in and stop the fight. The ref was arguably quick to intervene, but it was only a matter of time before Crute would have inflicted even more damage.
🇦🇺#DWTNCS: @CruteJim wins via 1st round stoppage! pic.twitter.com/ZOsp5Fd6fs
— Submission Radio (@SubmissionRadio) July 25, 2018
At only 22-years-old, Crute will enter the light-heavyweight division of the UFC. Asked who he would like to fight in his UFC debut, Crute was quick to answer “Any of ‘em, I’ll take ‘em all. Doesn’t matter,” he said.
Crute also got rave reviews after the fight from UFC President Dana White:
"He was my favorite one tonight. He was my favorite pick" – UFC President @DanaWhite
🇦🇺 @CruteJim MMA earns a spot on the UFC roster👊 #DWTNCS pic.twitter.com/lGRoarhzV6— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) July 25, 2018
“The Aussies are on fire right now,” White said
“There’s a tonne of talent coming out of that part of the world and Australia has always been very good to us, as far as fights, big gates, huge fans, big PPVs and to have another superstar from Australia – we love it. (Crute) was my favorite one tonight. He was my favorite pick, so I’m looking very forward to seeing him fight again in the UFC.”
Not a bad introduction into the UFC for Jim Crute from the president of the organization.