“I think a win over Jimmy Crute legitimizes that I’m as good as I say I am,” Anthony Smith is looking forward to UFC 261

“I think a win over Jimmy Crute legitimizes that I’m as good as I say I am,” Anthony Smith is looking forward to UFC 261

Anthony Smith vs Jimmy Crute

Anthony Smith is going to take on the young prospect Jimmy Crute at UFC 261 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena this Saturday night, and fans are excited about it.

Smith is coming off from a two-fight skid by defeating Devin Clark via submission last November. Smith is (34-16) on his professional record, and is looking to silence the doubters by defeating Jimmy Crute.

Anthony Smith and Devin Clark
Anthony Smith vs Devin Clark

At the UFC 261 media day, he said, “I think it’s good for my career. The knock on me leading up to the title fight was that I was fighting the older guys, and although they were Hall of Famers or former champions, I think that the knock is that they were older guys.”

Smith added, “Then I fight Devin Clark and he’s a young up-and-comer, so I was thinking, ‘Ok, he’s a young guy.’ I beat him and people are like, ‘Oh, he’s not that good.’ I think a win over Jimmy Crute legitimizes that I’m as good as I say I am.”

Crute is one of the hottest prospects in the game, the 25-year-old has only one professional defeat and he has earned a “Performance of the Night” bonuses in his last two fights, so it will be a tough test for Anthony Smith.

“You’re either climbing or defending,” Anthony Smith reveals that there are only two sides to this game.

Anthony Smith
Anthony Smith

Anthony Smith also took some time to reflect back upon his career, he said, “I’ve always respected the game. You’re either in two positions in this sport: You’re either climbing or defending. On my way to the title, I was climbing my way to the top and always looking ahead of me. You drop a couple of fights, you stub your toe a little bit, and you have to kind of defend your sport a little bit.

Smith added, “I know Dana respects that. I know the UFC respects that, that I was willing to fight Devin Clark with absolutely nothing to gain and everything to lose. And here I am doing it again. I do it to show that I don’t give a sh*t who you put in front of me. I’m here to defend my position and then after this we can get back to climbing.”

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