Australian light heavyweight fighter Jimmy Crute is making his return this Saturday. He will fight Alonzo Menifield in the opening fight of the UFC 284 main card. The 205 lbs fight is scheduled for 3 rounds and judging by their combined 15 KO wins, it ensures fireworks for the fans!
Jimmy Crute’s last fight was in December 2021. In that fight, Crute lost to the current light heavyweight champ Jamahal Hill via knockout. Prior to that, former title contender Anthony Smith beat him as well. So Crute needed the break after suffering two back-to-back high-profile losses. However, he seems energized to make an emphatic return this weekend.
Jimmy Crute (204.5) vs. Alonzo Menifield (205)#UFC284 pic.twitter.com/BMasHoVgEE
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) February 11, 2023
However, Alonzo Menifield is on a 2-fight win streak. He has beaten Askar Mozharov and Misha Cirkunov respectively in his last two fights. Although he beat Daniel Jolly in Dana White‘s Contender Series in July 2017, Menifield had to return in 2018 to earn his UFC contract. He defeated Dashawn Boatwright in the DWCS fight via TKO.
So who comes out on top in this exciting light heavyweight fight? Can Jimmy Crute make his happy return in front of his home crowd? Or will Alonzo Menifield ruin the homecoming party? Let’s find out.
UFC 284: Jimmy Crute vs Alonzo Menifield, Stats
Stats | Jimmy Crute | Alonzo Menifield |
---|---|---|
Wins | 12 | 13 |
Losses | 3 | 3 |
Height | 1.88 m | 1.83 m |
Division | Light Heavyweight | Light Heavyweight |
Reach | 73 in | 72.5 in |
Age | 26 | 35 |
Crute vs Menifield: Fight Breakdown
As per UFC stats, Jimmy Crute lands 4.22 strikes on his opponents per minute. But his grappling stats are much more impressive. He reportedly averages 4.87 takedowns per fight. So his output inside the Octagon can never be in question. He has a takedown accuracy of 75% and a striking accuracy of 56%. On top of smothering his opponents with his hyperactive style, Crute also attempts 2 submissions per fight.
4 years ago today, Jimmy Crute finished Sam Alvey pic.twitter.com/8amYtYgbfl
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) February 10, 2023
Alonzo Menifield can not match the same output that Jimmy Crute has. Menifield averages 3.91 strikes per minute and 0.81 takedowns per fight. However, judging by the finishing rate, Alonzo will be the more powerful striker in the fight. With 10 KO wins, it does not take Menifield much to catch his opponents off guard. With only 1 KO loss, he also has a great chin.
Crute has 2 KO/TKO losses in his career and both of them have come in his last two fights. Although he is just 26 years of age, the two back-to-back stoppage losses do not bode well for him. Even Misha Cirkunov beat him via submission in 2019. Alonzo, on the other hand, beat Cirkunov comfortably via KO in his last fight.
Although MMA math does not often add up, it does add some perspective. It looks like there is a long way to go for Jimmy Crute before he can be considered a part of the elite in the division. His first challenge is to defeat Alonzo Menifield at UFC 284. But looking at the recent trends, Menifield will be the favorite.