UFC 261: Jimmy Crute suffers first round TKO defeat after gruesome leg injury

Brendan Bradford

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UFC 261: Jimmy Crute suffers first round TKO defeat after gruesome leg injury image

Jimmy Crute has fallen to a heart-breaking TKO loss to Anthony Smith at UFC 261 when the doctor stopped the bout after the Aussie suffered an injury to his leg. 

Crute copped a huge leg kick to his left knee in the closing stages of the first round. He could barely stand to start the second frame and the doctor waved it off. 


"He was jabbing my face off way too much, I was letting him off," Crute said afterwards.  

"I couldn't feel my leg. In the second round, I was just going to come out and pull guard because I couldn't stand on my leg."



Although he was furious at the stoppage and wanted to fight on, he quickly put the result into perspective. 

"Back home in Australia it's Anzac Day, which is the equivalent to Veteran's Day here," he said. 

"I just want to give a massive shout out. What we do here, would not be possible if not for the fallen troops. 

"I might have lost today, but they lost their lives back then." 

Smith's jab was on point in the opening two minutes, while Crute worked a nice low kick to Smith's left leg. 

A big right hand from Smith landed in the closing two minutes of the round, while big red welts were visible on the Lionheart's left leg. 

While Crute threw more kicks, it was Smith who had Crute on the mat for the first time in the fight with a vicious left low kick of his own in the final minute. 

Crute's leg completely gave way as he fell, but the Bendigo brawler landed a takedown and ended the round in top position. 

Crute's left foot gave way from underneath him at the end of the round, and still wasn't right by the start of the second. 

The 25-year-old stumbled as he waited to fight again, and the doctor called an end to the action. 

 

Brendan Bradford