Anthony Smith sees UFC 261 bout vs. Jimmy Crute as opportunity to silence doubters

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Anthony Smith believes his critics won’t have much to work with after Saturday night.

The former UFC light heavyweight title challenger returns to the octagon in the main card of UFC 261 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Smith (34-16 MMA, 9-6 UFC) takes on Jimmy Crute in an important 205-pound bout. It’s Smith’s first fight since bouncing back from a two-fight skid with a first-round submission win over Devin Clark last November.

With 50 professional fights under his belt, Smith has shared the cage with some of the world’s best such as Jon Jones, Glover Teixeira, Alexander Gustafsson, and Rashad Evans. Crute (12-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is in no way Smith’s most notable foe, but he’s an important test, as he thinks Crute offers something to his career that he’s maybe lacked.

“I think it’s good for my career,” Smith told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at UFC 261 media day on Wednesday. “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.

“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 considered one of the bright prospects in the division. The 25-year-old has only one professional defeat and is coming off two first-round finishes that won him $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonuses.

Smith has no problem taking on a hot prospect who doesn’t have as much attention or history in the UFC compared to other veterans. He relishes the opportunity to get on a two-fight wining streak and start making another title run.

“I’ve always respected the game,” Smith said. “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.

“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.”