UFC news: Jimmy Crute brands American rival Jamahal Hill ‘delusional’

Rising Australian UFC fighter Jimmy Crute has given his take on hyped American rival Jamahal Hill and added a touch of spice to their big clash in December.

Jimmy Crute unleashes on Modestas Bukauskas at the UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi last year. Picture: Josh Hedges/Getty Images

Australian UFC fighter Jimmy Crute has branded hyped American rival Jamahal Hill “delusional”, saying of the Chicago light heavyweight: “He hasn’t done what he makes out he has”.

Widely considered the ‘next big thing’ of the Aussie fight game, 25-year-old Crute will be looking to continue his push into the division’s top 10 when he faces Hill on December 5, most likely in Las Vegas.

The fight will be the Melbournian’s first appearance since suffering a contentious TKO (doctor stoppage) loss to Anthony Smith in April, when a kick by Smith compressed the peroneal nerve in his leg — leaving Crute almost unable to walk, yet pleading to continue, at the end of round one.

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Hill, meanwhile, is also coming back from his own gruesome injury.

Back at UFC 263 in June, the American was stopped by Paul Craig after initially dislocating his elbow and then refusing to tap.

UFC light heavyweight star Jimmy Crute at his Melbourne gym. Picture: David Caird

While the loss was his first in 10 fights, Hill has also been hailed a potential star of the UFC light heavyweight division. But as for what Crute makes of said hype?

“Obviously, it’s there for a reason,” Crute said. “But I also think Jamahal Hill is very delusional.”

Delusional?

“Great bloke but very delusional,” Crute continued of the rival who, before the Craig loss, beat UFC veteran Ovince Saint Preux. “So far he’s fought two decent guys. One of whom (OSP) who was past his prime and the other in Craig … well, we all know what happened there. So he just thinks he’s better than he is.

“And that’s not being disrespectful.

“He is great. But he hasn’t done what he’s making out he has done in the sport.

“He acts like he’s been here for 10 years. Been here forever. But both of us, we’ve been here two minutes. So mate, we’ve both just rocked up. And there is more you have to prove before talking like that.”

Jimmy Crute is keen to prove he is better than his ranking of No.13 in the light heavyweight division. Picture: Josh Hedges/Getty Images

Currently Crute is ranked at No.13 in the division, with Hill one place behind.

“So he’s good,” Crute said. “But he makes a lot of mistakes.

“And right now in the rankings, he’s exactly where he should be. But I should be a lot higher.

“And this is what we’re going to see in the fight — that I’m simply a lot better than him.”

Surprisingly, Crute revealed he had already predicted this showdown with Hill when the pair crossed paths after his loss to Smith at UFC 261 in Jacksonville, Florida.

“We bumped into each other later that night in a bar,” he said. “He was at the event, having cornered for someone I think, and had his fight with Paul Craig coming up.

“So I said to him that we were going to fight.

“I told him how I thought Paul was going to win their fight but I did think we would also fight down the track. And he was cool. He’s a good bloke.

“It was just a really friendly back and forth.”

Jimmy Crute will fight Jamahal Hill on December 5. Picture: David Caird

Like Crute, Hill also earned his way into the UFC via Dana White’s Contender Series.

That was in 2019, and after going undefeated in his first five fights.

Since then, Hill has fought four times in the UFC, winning three — although a first round TKO win against Klidson Abreu was overturned to a No Contest after he tested positive for marijuana.

“But now this has become a fight everyone is asking for,” Crute said of their impending showdown. “People think he will be massive in this division and I agree he’ll have a great career.

“I think he’s going to climb the rankings — but only after first being knocked down by me.”