Jimmy Crute thinks the dark days are officially behind him after picking up a dominant finish in the UFC Fight Night 260 co-main event.
After going through a brutal stretch of five fights without a victory between April 2021 and February 2025, Crute (14-5-2 MMA, 6-4-2 UFC) has finally turned it around and is riding back-to-back first-round stoppage wins following his unique submission of Ivan Erslan (14-6 MMA, 0-3 UFC) on Saturday at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
Crute has been open that he thought his moments of success in the sport were over and he was done at the top level. Still just 29, he said his mental narrative has flipped, and he’s only ready to focus on the brighter days ahead.
“I had that little bit in the lead-up to this one where I’m like, ‘I’m just sick of talking about it,'” Crute told reporters at the UFC Fight Night 260 post-event news conference. “Let my actions speak louder than my words now. I’m sick of saying I’m back. I’m sick of saying, ‘Oh, it was really rough.’ I’m sick of saying all this bullsh*t. Let’s just focus on here and now.”
Although Crute now finally has momentum back on his side, he is ready to keep it going. There’s a rumored UFC event in Sydney in February, and Crute said he will sign the bout agreement for anyone the matchmakers deem appropriate.
“Whoever Mick Maynard puts in front of me in February in Sydney can cop it,” Crute said.
