After Ryan Spann demolished fellow light heavyweight Misha Cirkunov in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 21, he implied that a hint of revenge was in the air. Following a devastating first-round knockout to the rising star Johnny Walker at UFC Vegas 11, S…
After Ryan Spann demolished fellow light heavyweight Misha Cirkunov in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 21, he implied that a hint of revenge was in the air. Following a devastating first-round knockout to the rising star Johnny Walker at UFC Vegas 11, Spann understood adjustments were necessary and especially sought revenge against Walker and […]
Anthony Smith will be taking on Jimmy Crute in light heavyweight action. Crute was initially set to face Johnny Walker on the UFC’s upcoming March 27 card. However, Walker had to pull out due to injury and will now be replaced by Smith. Additionally, the fight will be rescheduled for the UFC’s April 24 event. […]
Anthony Smith will be taking on Jimmy Crute in light heavyweight action.
Crute was initially set to face Johnny Walker on the UFC’s upcoming March 27 card. However, Walker had to pull out due to injury and will now be replaced by Smith. Additionally, the fight will be rescheduled for the UFC’s April 24 event.
It’s something that pleases Crute as he believes Walker is ducking him. Instead, he will now get a bigger opponent in former title challenger Smith.
“A wise man called @danielkellyjudo once told me “in a sport that’s supposed to be full of tough guys you’d be surprised at how many pussies there are in this sport” very true words. Disappointed that my opponent has ducked me yet again but I can’t say that I am surprised that being said I can’t express how excited and grateful I am that a true fighter has decided to step in and fight me. This is a better fight , better name and bigger challenge but I’m ready for it.”
Crute, meanwhile, is on a two-fight winning streak following a submission win over Michal Oleksiejczuk and a knockout victory over Modesta Bukauskas. In total, he has won four of his last five outings since signing wih the UFC in 2018.
Anthony Smith will be filling in for Johnny Walker to face Jim Crute on April 24 in a fight between two ranked light heavyweights. ESPN has reported that Johnny Walker has been forced to pull out of his fight against Jim Crute, prompting Anthony Smith …
Anthony Smith will be filling in for Johnny Walker to face Jim Crute on April 24 in a fight between two ranked light heavyweights. ESPN has reported that Johnny Walker has been forced to pull out of his fight against Jim Crute, prompting Anthony Smith to step up to the plate. Thus far, there is […]
A bout between two ranked light heavyweights is set for March 27 when Johnny Walker takes on Jimmy Crute. According to an ESPN report, Johnny Walker and Jimmy Crute will make their 2021 debuts when the two face off on March 27. There is no word yet on …
A bout between two ranked light heavyweights is set for March 27 when Johnny Walker takes on Jimmy Crute. According to an ESPN report, Johnny Walker and Jimmy Crute will make their 2021 debuts when the two face off on March 27. There is no word yet on if the bout will serve as the […]
An interesting light heavyweight matchup of 205-pound prospects, Johnny Walker, and Jimmy ‘The Brute’ Crute has been booked for a UFC event on March 27 — with a location or venue for the showcase yet to be determined by the promotion. Snapping a two-fight slide in September at UFC Vegas 11, Walker, recently under the […]
An interesting light heavyweight matchup of 205-pound prospects, Johnny Walker, and Jimmy ‘The Brute’ Crute has been booked for a UFC event on March 27 — with a location or venue for the showcase yet to be determined by the promotion.
Per sources, Jimmy Crute (@CruteJim) vs. Johnny Walker (@JohnnyWalker) agreed to for March 27. Sick matchup between some of the new blood at 205 … really like this one. pic.twitter.com/nGu7kf2YJ5
Walker, 28, is an alum of Dana White’s Contender Series, and since his transition to the Octagon back in November of 2018, has managed a 4-2 promotional résumé.
The Rio de Janeiro native has scored wins over Khalil Rountree Jr., Justin Ledet, and Misha Cirkunov all via massive knockouts, prior to a UFC 244 stoppage loss to recent Bellator debutante, Corey ‘Overtime’ Anderson in the first round.
Returning to Brazil in March, Walker featured against former Fight Nights Global champion, Nikita Krylov — dropping a unanimous decision defeat.
24-year-old Australian finisher, Crute currently sits at #12 in the official light heavyweight pile, and is also a former feature of DWCS. With a 4-1 promotional record himself, the 24-year-old had submitted fellow Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu standout, Paul ‘The Bearjew’ Craig with a third-round kimura on home soil in his first Octagon appearance.
Prior to a Peruvian necktie defeat to common-opposition, Cirkunov, Crute had stopped ‘Smilin’ Sam Alvey via strikes before embarking on his two-fight rise over Michal Oleksiejczuk with another stunning first-round kimura stoppage, and his aforenoted win over Lithuanian finisher, Bukauskas.
Between top-fifteen contenders, Walker and Crute, the pair has managed an eye-catching combined twenty knockout stoppages as well as six stoppages via submission.
When former multiple-time UFC middleweight title challenger, Yoel ‘Soldier of God’ Romero parted ways with the UFC last week by mutual consent, many were surprised given the fact the Cuban finisher still retained three-fights on his then Octagon deal. Recently penning a multi-fight deal to link up with Bellator MMA after an almost seven-annum stay […]
When former multiple-time UFC middleweight title challenger, Yoel ‘Soldier of God’ Romero parted ways with the UFC last week by mutual consent, many were surprised given the fact the Cuban finisher still retained three-fights on his then Octagon deal.
Recently penning a multi-fight deal to link up with Bellator MMA after an almost seven-annum stay with the Dana White led UFC, the 43-year-old is linking up with the organization off the back of three consecutive decision losses, two of them albeit contentious.
Romero, who plys his trade at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida was recently pencilled in to meet with The Ultimate Fighter 17 runner-up, Uriah ‘Prime Time’ Hall at UFC Vegas 7 in August, with the pairing failing to materialise after the former withdrew with reasons undisclosed.
Speaking with ESPN MMA reporter, Ariel Helwani, Romero explained his surprise with his release from the promotion, claiming the UFC had planned on pairing him with the above mentioned, Hall as well as previous opposition, Derek Brunson — despite his idea for a top-three opponent.
“I was already in training, very hard, getting ready,” Romero said. “We were already thinking about fighting in January or February, in 185(-pounds) or 205 (-pounds). We were looking to fight with the top three in either division.“
“My managers (Malki Kawa) explained this to the top of the UFC,” Romero continued. [The UFC] wanted (me) to fight with Uriah Hall, (or) Derek Brunson. We explained that it didn’t make sense for (me) to fight with these young men. We had an idea we were chasing the world title. The way we were training, we knew we had one or two fights and then go for the belt. Our thought was fighting any of these guys in the back of the roster was taking steps backwards, not forwards.“
With the promotion and Romero hitting a stumbling block in terms of potential next opponents at middleweight after his March title challenge loss to current champion, Israel Adesanya, Romero noted his interest in a long-speculated move to the light heavyweight division.
After some thought, Romero and co decided on a shortlist of foes including two-time title challenger, Dominick Reyes, as well as one-time championship chasers, Thiago Santos, Glover Teixeira, and Anthony Smith — with the promotion instead floating Brazilian contender, Johnny Walker.
“They (the UFC) came back with an offer for us to fight Johnny Walker at 205(-pounds),” Romero said. “My managers initially were saying who we wanted: Dominick Reyes, Glover (Teixeira), (Thiago) Santos and Anthony Smith. And it was back and forth, kind of quiet on their end, and once they reached back, it was we couldn’t come to an agreement and they were going to commit to the release.” (H/T ESPN MMA)
After even more speculation as to where the Cuban Olympic silver medal victor would land in a bid to resume his mixed martial arts career, Scott Coker’s Bellator eventually snapped up the veteran knockout-artist to a multi-fight deal, despite initially distancing themselves from negotiations.
Anthony Smith will be taking on Jimmy Crute in light heavyweight action. Crute was initially set to face Johnny Walker on the UFC’s upcoming March 27 card. However, Walker had to pull out due to injury and will now be replaced by Smith. Additionally, the fight will be rescheduled for the UFC’s April 24 event. […]
An interesting light heavyweight matchup of 205-pound prospects, Johnny Walker, and Jimmy ‘The Brute’ Crute has been booked for a UFC event on March 27 — with a location or venue for the showcase yet to be determined by the promotion. Snapping a two-fight slide in September at UFC Vegas 11, Walker, recently under the […]
When former multiple-time UFC middleweight title challenger, Yoel ‘Soldier of God’ Romero parted ways with the UFC last week by mutual consent, many were surprised given the fact the Cuban finisher still retained three-fights on his then Octagon deal. Recently penning a multi-fight deal to link up with Bellator MMA after an almost seven-annum stay […]