UFC Perth takeaways: Ulberg’s time is now, Crute redemption arc continues

From the brutal ko of the first round of Carlos Ulberg which put the division of light heavyweights, to the history of the redemption of Jimmy Crute, to a day when almost all local fighters had sent the crowd of Rac Arena in the ravages, UFC Perth delivered all that fans could have hoped.

Here are the biggest dishes to remember from the UFC Perth card.

Ulberg is this guy

There was a little chip on the broad shoulders of Carlos Ulberg this week while the light heavyweights n ° 3 were confronted on several occasions on his chances of the world title. Was he the next man? What should he do to get it? Are his fights too boring? Is it too sure? Does he need to make a statement?

Well, make a statement he made. An astonishing and brutal KO in the first round of a rejuvenated Dominick Reyes answered all these questions and more.

It was a surgical dismantling of Reyes, which failed to pick up a punch. He checked the cage, controlled the pace, saw his opportunity and took it devastatingly.

Your Dana move. Next week before seeing Ankalaev against Pereira 2, Jiri Proper and Khalil Roundtree will meet while the four -way battle to be the next man arrives in crescendo. And Ulberg plans to be there too. Sitting on the cage side, reminding everyone that he thinks he is the guy. Undefeated over the years. Intact in the cage tonight. Unbreakable confidence. His time is now.

The continuous Cruted Academy A arch

It was 2019 that Jimmy Crute, a light heavyweight, was appointed by ESPN as the 7th best hope under 25. Many things have happened since then. After having met defeats against the pillars of the Anthony Smith and Jamahal Hill division, the cruel star quickly faded after a pair of fights with Alonzo Menifield. After the second fight – a defeat in Las Vegas – Crute dropped off her gloves and apparently left the octagon for good.

Almost two years of sport has seen the cute change a lot. He found religion, became a devout Christian and used his new spirituality as a springboard for a return. A draw in Sydney at UFC 312 and an impressive submission victory against Marcin Prachino, brought him to Perth as a co-one. Against Ivan Erslan, Crute was huge, taking her opponent to the carpet in the first opportunity and was relentless in pursuit of the submission.

While he was taking a crowd at home, a smile could not be wiped on the face of a crute. A happy Jimmy Crute is a dangerous Jimmy Crute. And there was no happier man in Perth than Bendigo’s boy.

A big night for local fighters

Originally with 14 Australian and New Zealand fighters on the map, we found ourselves with 11 to walk in Rac Arena after the withdrawal of the Tafa brothers and the cancellation of Jono Micallef’s fight. And what day they had. In the end, 10 local fighters saw their arm raised with only Jake Matthews suffering from defeat – although in controversial circumstances.

All this while the royalty of Anz MMA – Adesanya, Whittaker, Volkanovski, Tuivasa, Hooker, Kara -France, Della Maddalena – was seated as spectators. It was a card that presented the depth of Anz MMA, reintroducing some former favorites and welcoming certain future stars.

Fighters like Brando Pericic who lit the blue tactile paper with a large first-round knock-out. Like Michelle Montague, the first woman kiwi to make UFC, who obtained the decision. Tom Nolan, Navajo Stirling, great perspectives on the big races, which kept their train on the march. And the favorites of fans Jimmy Crute and Jack Jenkins. Both with difficult recent pasts, but both arms raised and smiles on their faces.

As the international chief of the UFC said, Dave Shaw, a card like this “puts many new names in the running”.