A battle of light heavyweight prospects Jim Crute and Paul Craig helped kick off the main card at UFC Adelaide.
Jim Crute looked to get his UFC career off on the right track with a debut fight against Paul Craig at UFC Adelaide on Saturday night. Joining the promotion after his victory on Dana White’s Contender Series, Crute had a tough assignment in Paul Craig. Craig, who had two wins in the promotion, owned the best comeback victory of 2018. That came by scoring a submission in the final second over Magomed Ankalaev, in March of this year. Craig scored a second UFC contract with the win, and was looking to get on a winning streak.
The first round of this light heavyweight battle featured a lot of fun grappling exchanges between the two. Craig looked for a takedown and got it very quickly, just seconds into the bout, however Crute would then reverse it and got back to the feet. As the round progressed we would see Crute get Craig to the ground and even look for a arm triangle choke, which he couldn’t secure. Crute however still had success with ground and pound while Craig looked for submissions from the bottom.
The second round also featured some slick grappling moments, but it seemed like Craig was having more success. Craig was on top for nearly the duration of the round, but Crute reversed him at times and landed on top. However he would consistently stand up just to get taken down by Craig once again. Through two rounds, it was absolutely a close fight, with Crute more than holding his own despite his newcomer status.
The third round featured a very tired Craig being outwrestled and outgrappled. Near the end of the round when it seemed like the fight would go to a decision, Crute got the full mount and landed plenty of big elbows and punches. He then transitioned to a kimura, and got it in fully, putting pressure on the shoulder as he submitted Craig in the final ten seconds of the fight!
Live by the late submission, die by the late submission. Great win by Jimmy Crute. Tough break for Paul Craig, meanwhile.
Jimmy Crute def Paul Craig by submission (kimura), Round 3, 4:51
