UFC 312 is the year’s first event Down Under, to be held at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. But what stands out about this event is the fact that the main and co-main events are headlined by fighters from the US, South Africa, and China. However, the first three fights in the main card are Australian, and one of them is light heavyweight fighter Jimmy Crute who will have the home-field advantage against the Brazilian KO artist Rodolfo Bellato.
While one fighter has been in Dana White’s promotion for years, the other has just started his UFC run in 2023. Having made their MMA debuts a year apart, Jimmy Crute and Rodolfo Bellato have been impressive in their careers with respectable records. But how do these two 205’ers match up when it comes to their styles? Well, here’s what we know.
Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato record & stats comparison
Rodolfo Bellato not only started his MMA journey a year later than his Australian counterpart but is also a relative newcomer compared to Jimmy Crute. While he lost his first Dana White’s Contender Series fight to Vitor Petrino, the Brazilian native bagged a win in his next one, and when he made his official debut in the promotion, he made a statement by knocking out Ihor Potieria.
On the other hand, Jimmy Crute’s UFC run has been a mixed bag. While he started off his UFC career with three wins in a row (including his DWCS fight), the 28-year-old has struggled to find consistency inside the Octagon. Moreover, ‘The Brute’ has yet to find himself on the winning side since 2020. Nevertheless, both fighters have a similar record, with the Aussie contender having a 12-4-1 record while Rodolfo Bellator has a 12-2 record.
This LHW clash will be a good one @CruteJim vs Rodolfo Bellato
[ #UFC312 | Saturday 10pmET | Live on ESPN+ PPV ] pic.twitter.com/hTf82wKvg9
— UFC (@ufc) February 7, 2025
With regard to their heights, the Brazilian stands at 6’3″ (191 cm), an inch taller than his Australian counterpart. In terms of reach too, Rodolfo Bellato has the advantage at 77.5″, compared to Jimmy Crute’s 74″. Bellato weighed in at 206 lbs in his last outing against Ihor Potieria at UFC on ESPN 52, while Crute weighed in at 205.5 lbs against Alonzo Menifield at UFC 209.
One of the biggest string points with Bellato is his takedown defense, which stands at 100 percent. He even has a better striking accuracy than Jimmy Crute. So could this fight be in ‘Trator’s hands? Well, let’s make a prediction, shall we?
Crute vs. Bellato prediction
When we turn to the UFC oddsmakers, they seem to have Rodolfo Bellato as the -162 favorite, while Jimmy Crute appears to be a +136 underdog. It’s understandable given their recent record, but that doesn’t tell us the whole story. Despite the losses in his last few outings, Crute possesses an elite level of grappling skills, which could certainly derail Bellato’s momentum this weekend. Both fighters were sidelined in 2024, but that hasn’t toned down how good the Australian native is when it comes to the wrestling department and we claim that confidently because he averages nearly five takedowns per three rounds.
Rodolfo Bellato, on the other hand, has a tendency that could prove to be a mistake heading into UFC 312. He likes to brawl recklessly, but what stands out is his aforementioned striking prowess. Currently, he’s on a 4-fight knockout streak (two of them coming in another promotion). But the fact that Crute has excellent top control, he could very well cancel the aggression that Bellato showcases inside the Octagon. Needless to say, this is a great matchup set up by Dana White.
Well, it’s a pretty close fight when it comes to these statistics and fighting history. But we’ll get all the answers once the cage door gets locked this weekend. Let us know your pick as the winner between Jimmy Crutre and Rodolfo Bellato in the comments down below.
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