“The Brute” has released a statement after nearly retiring at UFC 290, and it sounds like it may be awhile before we see him compete in the Octagon again.
Jimmy Crute’s latest fight at UFC 290, which took place this past weekend (Sat., July 8, 2023) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, didn’t go according to plan … and now “The Brute” plans on taking some time off to sort through his life priorities.
The Australian Light Heavyweight was hoping to win a rematch against Alonzo Menifield, one that ended in an unceremonious draw five months prior. But, the scorecard doesn’t tell the true story: while Crute started out strong, Menifield took over in the last two rounds, nearly finishing the fight multiple times.
It was only because of a fence grab that the match ended up a draw.
Therefore, the recent rematch was like round four of the first fight. Menifield was too fast, and Crute didn’t have any answers against the more technical fighter. And he ended up getting submitted two minutes into the second round.
Crute seemed to retire following the disappointing result, taking off his gloves and putting them in the middle of the Octagon. But, no announcement was made. Now, Crute is walking back the retirement, but declaring he’ll take a potentially lengthy break from the sport to get his head in the right place.
“I’ve had a bit to process,” Crute wrote on Instagram. “That reaction after the fight just shows how unhealthy my relationship has gotten with this sport. I have been obsessed with being in the UFC since I was 12 years old and it has been my entire identity since I made the decision to chase this dream.
“I have a lot to address before I think about stepping back in there,” he continued. “Truth is, I don’t even know who I am without all of this. I am going to take the time to find myself, do the therapy and get myself right. I’ve needed to walk away from this unhealthy obsession for a while now.
“That being said deep down I know that I am far from done,” Crute concluded. “I’m going to step away for as long as it takes and do the work then comeback with a healthy and sustainable mindset toward this sport. How long that takes isn’t up to me but I look forward to the challenges coming up.”
“Thank you to everyone that has reached out to check on me. I appreciate it more than I am able to express.”
Crute came into UFC via a big first round knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series back in 2018, and then went on to amass a 4-1 record in the promotion with four finishes. He suffered a bad leg injury in a fight against Anthony Smith and then had to take several months off for a knee reconstruction. He then bad fortune to return against now-champion, Jamahal Hill, who blasted Crute into the shadow realm in less than one minute (watch it here).
Crute seemed slower and less confident in his return against Menifield at UFC 284. The knee surgery may have slowed him down just enough to throw him off his game. If he’s going to stick around, he’ll need to learn some new tricks and strategies while away. He’s got some solid gifts: knockout power, an aggressive submission game and a granite chin.
Here’s hoping he returns in 2024 with his head sorted out.
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