With Junior Tafa off the UFC Perth card this weekend, it’s light heavyweight Jimmy Crute finding himself in the co-main event slot.
It’s safe to say that Crute (13-4-2) is happy with the promotion. He also sees a number of areas he can beat opponent Ivan Erslan in, not just in the grappling department, he said during this week’s media day.
“I think I can beat him in a lot of other places. Obviously there’s a big skill discrepancy with the grappling, but I can touch him up too, don’t worry about that,” promised Crute.
Erslan has found considerable success outside the UFC, but is on a two-fight skid inside the octagon. He’s seeing UFC Perth as a huge opportunity to right the ship, but Crute seems to think he’s reading too much into it.
“I noticed when I watched tape on him, he had more composure in his second UFC fight than he did in his first. That might be because of his opponent difference, but I don’t really care,” stated Crute. “I think he might be overthinking it a bit.”
Known for fan-pleasing brawls in the cage, Crute isn’t going out to intentionally get in a barnburner. “I just go out there and fight, man. I can’t help but to get into exciting fights,” noted Crute. “It’s just my style.”
A few years back, Crute took a self-imposed sabbatical from fighting, after becoming too obsessive over it. He’s now learned the importance of rest and recovery, though he does have to keep after himself.
“I’m at peace with it, but I do have to remind myself quite often. It’s a constant war between wanting to do more and knowing when to rest and stuff,” he stated. “But I’m much better at it than I used to be.”
Watch the full UFC Perth media day appearance by Jimmy Crute above.
