Anthony Smith makes his UFC return against young prospect Jimmy Crute in the main-card of UFC 261 which will feature three title fights with Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal set to serve as the headliner. UFC’s return to a live audience will also see Weili Zhang defend her strawweight championship against former champion Rose Namajunas. The card will also feature flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko competes against Jessica Andrade in what promises to be an exciting match-up.
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Ahead of the huge event, let’s take a look at Anthony Smith vs Jimmy Crute in the UFC’s light-heavyweight division. The UFC’s light-heavyweight division is looking incredible right now, with several up-and-coming fighters in the division.
Anthony Smith vs Jimmy Crute stats
Anthony Smith is coming off an incredible first-round submission win over Devin Clark. After suffering back-to-back losses against Glover Teixeira and Aleksandar Rakic, Smith jumped back to the winning column with an impressive performance late last year in 2020.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Crute continues to impress and will look to maintain the same momentum as he takes on MMA veteran in the form of Anthony Smith. Crute is on a two-fight winning streak and has looked incredible since dropping a submission loss to Misha Cirkunov.
Can Jimmy Crute upset Anthony Smith?
Anthony Smith has clearly stated that UFC is wrong in thinking that he is past his prime by matching him with up an coming fighter. Smith’s performance against Devin Clark was testimony to his eliteness in the sport of mixed martial arts. It’s interesting to note that Smith’s last two losses have come against the top two ranked fighters in the division.
Be that as it may, Jimmy Crute is a dangerous opponent. The 25-year old fighter still has a long way to go in his UFC career. He carried great power in his hands and has knocked out both of his previous two opponents via first-round knockout, thereby earning the Performacne of the Night bonus on both occasions.
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It won’t be wrong to say that Smith has struggled against strikers off late. He looks relatively slow and lacks the pace in the later rounds. Crute could prove to be too much for the MMA veteran. Crute is athletic, more powerful, and should get the job done this weekend.
Anthony Smith vs Jimmy Crute prediction: Jimmy Crute by TKO
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