‘Knocking at my door’: Jimmy Crute reveals surprise ahead of long-awaited UFC comeback

It looked as though Jimmy Crute was retiring following his loss to Alonzo Menifield last year. 18 months on, he reveals the dramatic change in his life – and why he’s making a UFC comeback.

As he picked himself up off the canvas after being submitted in the second round by Alonzo Menifield in Las Vegas 16 months ago, Aussie light-heavyweight Jimmy Crute knew something needed to change.

Frustrated and embarrassed at the defeat, he took off his gloves and it looked as though he was retiring.

He’s barely been seen since.

His Instagram profile has only one post, and the 28-year-old hasn’t done much media.

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Instead, this tattooed, mullet-wearing, beer-swilling knockabout bloke from Bendigo started a journey of self-discovery to reignite his passion and purpose.

“I’ve been talking to Jesus Christ, mate,” he says bluntly about the biggest change he’s gone through.

“He was knocking at my door for a while, and I was running away from him.”

Reinvigorated following his surprise religious awakening, Crute will return to the Octagon against Poland’s Marcin Prachnio (17-8) at UFC 312 in Sydney on February 9.

His is the first fight announced for the UFC’s return to Sydney, with debutant Quillan Sallkild taking on Anshul Jubli (7-1) and Redcliff local Stewart Nicoll fighting Rei Tsuruya (10-0).

It looked as though Crute was retiring following his loss to Alonzo Menifield last year. Picture: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

For Crute, UFC 312 is his chance to regain the kind of form that made him one of the hottest Aussie MMA prospects going around.

He just needed the last year and a half of self-discovery to get back there.

“After my last fight I was like, ‘Oh this can’t go on. I need to sort out what’s going on in my brain’,” he said. “I tried to ignore it for too long, then it gets to a point where you have a meltdown in front of the world.

“It’s a little bit embarrassing, but you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep going.

“Memories of that last fight are just frustration. It seemed like I was wrestling with God, trying to force something that wasn’t for me. And you can’t do that.

“Now, a loss doesn’t define me. It’s part of a plan. It was supposed to happen – I was supposed to have that loss.

“It’s been a blessing in disguise. I have a purpose now, and it’s a purpose much bigger than myself.”

Crute’s mullet in full flow. Picture: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Crute has been a full time athlete since just before breaking into the UFC in 2018, and has experienced the complete range of highs and lows that come with competing at the elite level.

Funnily enough, the highs and the high life took more of a toll.

“I’m only human, and humans are very susceptible to that kind of lifestyle,” he said of his rapid rise to prominence. “I always tried to keep my eyes on the bigger picture, but it does seep in sneakily.

“It’s not a blatant thing, but it comes on slowly, and I had to get away from it and face a lot of things that I don’t even let into my mind now.

“It was about getting back to why I do it and not trying to get external validation.

“I always knew that there was something deep inside me that chose to do this sport. I can’t explain what it is.

“But as soon as I saw the sport, I made a conscious decision to chase it. I dunno why, but I looked at it and thought it was me.

“It was just for the love of it, not for the results, not for the glitz and glamour.”

Marcin Prachnio (R) has been in with some of the best the UFC has to offer. Picture: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Make no mistake though, he still sees himself as one of the best fighters on the planet, and desperately wants to become the 205-pound world champion.

That journey starts on February 12 in Sydney against Prachnio, and eventually includes the all-conquering light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

“I think I’m good enough, talented enough and work hard enough to win the world title,” Crute said. “That’s my plan, but the plan isn’t mine anymore, so we’ll see what’s in store for me.

“There are some good matches, hard fights and a lot of movement in the division at the moment.

“Obviously the champion (Alex Pereira) is a very scary dude, but there’s ways to beat him.

“I’m not taking this comeback lightly. I’m not coming back just for the sake of it. I’m coming back to get back on with it.

“So Marcin’s in my way and that’s all that matters. I’ve gotta figure out a way to beat him.”

Originally published as ‘Knocking at my door’: Jimmy Crute reveals surprise ahead of long-awaited UFC comeback