Faith leads Jimmy Crute back to the Octagon at UFC 312

Achieving excellence in any field requires a degree of obsession, and the UFC is no exception. But Jimmy Crute felt he had gone too far down that path. He realized his dedication to fighting had impacted his life, necessitating a change, and he was ready to make it.

Crute competed in the UFC light heavyweight division for five years, but in July 2023, after suffering three losses and one no-contest in his last four fights, the Victorian fighter could no longer endure it. After years dedicated to his fighting career, he decided to temporarily step away from fighting to find a life without it.

"I was completely ready to walk away," Crute said. "I realized that when I walked away, I could do anything I wanted to do. It was liberating." He added, "There's a lot of unfinished business for me. But I can live a good life with or without fighting."

So, Crute gave up his fighting career and began a journey of self-discovery. He left Bendigo and traveled around the country in a campervan. To maintain connections with his past life, he kept in touch with former champions Robert Whittaker and Alexander Volkanovski, and he returned to his old job as a concrete worker. He also found faith, believing that his Christian faith has changed him forever.

After experiencing all of this, he finally realized he wanted to return to the Octagon. Crute said, "That desire was always there. I think that desire will be with me for the rest of my life. But after six months of getting back into training, that desire became even stronger." He also stated, "The scariest moment was when I wasn't sure if my body could handle the comeback. It wasn't as easy as I remembered, and I had never taken a break before. But soon I was stronger than ever."

All of this leads to this Sunday, where Crute will face Brazilian Rodolfo Bellato at UFC 312, returning as a new man and a new fighter, continuing to pursue his former dreams. The 28-year-old Crute may be at the peak of his career, having faced some well-known fighters in his first stint in the UFC, including former title challenger Anthony Smith and former champion Jamahal Hill.

He will be starting from closer to the bottom, but with the light heavyweight division in dire need of fresh blood, Crute has the opportunity to quickly rise through the ranks in a short period of time. Crute said, "I've been keeping an eye on what's been happening in the light heavyweight division. There's a big opportunity here, and I think it's a great chance to reintroduce myself."

Despite harboring huge dreams, Crute will be the underdog in Sunday's fight, and he desperately needs this win. A run of five fights without a win could mean the end of his time in the UFC, so the stakes have never been higher. In the past, the pressure might have overwhelmed him. But Crute believes his new perspective, especially his faith, can guide him through the difficulties and towards the top, where he has always dreamed of being.

Crute said, "Jesus was knocking on my heart before my last fight. Then everything developed the way it was supposed to, bringing me closer to God. This weekend, everything I've been accumulating is ready to explode. Even Jesus flipped tables. I'm enjoying the whole process, even the weight cut and media interviews, the two things I used to hate the most. It's so good to be present, and I'm doing what I've wanted to do since I was 12 years old."

Win or lose, Crute has already been on a life-changing journey to get back here. If he could go back in time and give some advice to the version of himself who couldn't imagine a life without fighting, it would be simple: "Keep moving forward. Not just in the fight game, but in life. It will pay off, in whatever way it may."