Jimmy Crute had the Perth crowd on their feet, and not just for his striking. Justin Tafa was scheduled to fight in the co-main event at UFC Fight Night 260; however, an injury forced the card to be rearranged. That allowed Crute to face 0-2 KSW veteran Ivan Erslan, and the light heavyweight prospect made sure it was a night to remember. What followed was not just a victory but a submission that rocked the fight world.
From the opening bell, the 29-year-old set the pace. Early striking exchanges hinted at his dominance, but the grappling stole the show. Crute scored a takedown, and as Erslan attempted to get back on his feet, he ended up carrying Crute like a bag. ‘The Brute’ swept, got the mount, and effortlessly transitioned to the back.
It was there that Jimmy Crute executed the finish. Sliding his arms under Erslan’s chin, he locked in a tight neck crank, forcing a quick tap at 3:19 in Round 1. Though officially recorded as a rear-naked choke, Crute claimed he was unconcerned about semantics.
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“I don’t know, but I f—— love it!” he told Paul Felder after the fight, a grin on his face. The win marked back-to-back victories for Jimmy Crute, his first since 2020, and improved his post-hiatus record to 3-0. At only 29, the Australian light heavyweight stated that this was merely the beginning.
“I feel like my best days are ahead of me,” Crute said.With a dominant performance like this, the UFC heavyweight division and light heavyweight prospects have been put on notice. In fact, ‘The Brute’ ended the night by announcing his next challenge, pointing to a February card in Sydney, Australia.
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Fans and commentators alike are now eager to see where he goes from here. The camel clutch-style finale was more than just a victory; it was a declaration that Jimmy Crute has returned and is here to stay. In fact, it has the fight world buzzing with some well-earned praise, crossovers, and fancy renaming.
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The combat world can’t stop talking about Jimmy Crute’s highlight finish
Fans are still reeling over Jimmy Crute’s stunning submission, and the online reactions have been never-ending. The unusual finish left everyone attempting to describe what they had just seen, and many wondered if a new signature move had emerged in the light heavyweight division. Terrance McKinney’s comment summed up the shock for many: “I ain’t seen that bully choke hold like that since 2nd grade lmfao.” WWE fans also joined in, connecting parallels to wrestling history
One user commented, “Looks like the camel clutch from the Iron Sheik WWF days,” while another said, “Brought back schoolyard WWE fight memories right there 🤣🤣🤣.” The crossover of MMA and wrestling made the moment feel even larger, connecting combat sports fans across different arenas.
Social media exploded with humorous name proposals, emphasizing how iconic the finish felt. Fans submitted titles such as “The brute crute head removal”, “The Crute choke?” and even “The headless horseman,” all of which attempted to capture the spectacle of the submission.
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Fans continued to express their shock, highlighting the move’s sheer ferocity. “Jimmy The Freakin’ Brute Crute just nearly ripped this dude’s head off,” one wrote, while another added, “Crute just hit bro with the Camel Clutch. Damn near ripped his head off. Kratos style.” The level of shock and awe accurately highlighted Crute’s dominance in the cage.
Between the stunned reactions, renaming discussions, and WWE throwbacks, it’s evident that Jimmy Crute’s finish went beyond just a win. The combat world can’t stop talking about it, and ‘The Brute’ has established himself as a rising star in MMA’s light heavyweight division.