The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will illuminate the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, on Saturday, September 27th, 2025, when a pivotal light heavyweight fight occurs that hangs in the balance of both men's careers. The hometown hero, Jimmy "The Brute" Crute, will face the determined Croatian Ivan Erslan in a high-flying encounter. This fight is not just a war; it's a turning point for two warriors, both on the path to redemption and fighting to earn their place in the world's premier mixed martial arts promotion.

This battle is a highlight of UFC Fight Night: Ulberg vs. Reyes. Crute, on a long and arduous journey to restore his best, will look to use momentum from his recent victory with a bank of friendly home fans. Erslan, a relentless striker with a strong record away from the UFC, is hungry for his maiden win in the promotion. The clash of Crute's full, devastating style with Erslan's explosive power ensures an energetic, volatile fight that will be massive for the winner's career.

• Date: Saturday, September 27th, 2025

• Venue: RAC Arena, Perth, Australia

• Competition: UFC Fight Night: Ulberg vs. Reyes

Jimmy Crute (13-4-2) is a jack-of-all-trades fighter with a Sambo background and a reputation as a big hitter. Having begun his UFC life on the right foot, Crute then experienced a poor spell, losing four in succession and leaving most of us pondering what the future may hold for him. But his redemption journey began in February 2025 with a seesaw battle against Rodolfo Bellato that ended in majority draw. Not a win but a significant turning point for Crute, who "rediscovered his love for the game."

In July 2025, at UFC 318, he continued his story of redemption by beating Marcin Prachnio in the first round with an armbar. This victory, his first since October 2020, was a huge confidence builder for Crute, who feels he is "much more present" in his fights now and can notice things as they are happening. Competing in front of his home fans in Perth, Crute is an inspired fighter intent on continuing his upward momentum and reclaiming his place in the light heavyweight division.

Ivan Erslan (14-5-0, 1 NC) is a formidable Croatian fighter still searching for his first UFC win. He has a solid non-UFC resume of ten knockout wins and a reputation as a rugged striking master with experience as a boxer. He has not done well in his two UFC performances, losing via split decision to Ion Cutelaba in September 2024 and by unanimous decision to Navajo Stirling in May 2025.

These two losses put Erslan in a difficult situation, and he knows that this is a battle that he must emerge victorious if he is to continue in the UFC. His record elsewhere is solid, but he must show that he is capable of competing at the highest level. His greatest asset is that he has the ability to finish fights in emphatic fashion with his explosive strikes, but he has struggled at times to defend, and his takedown defense has been vulnerable.

Jimmy Crute has a well-balanced set of skills, but his recent meetings demonstrate a renewed focus on his ground game. His takedown rate is 4.20 per 15 minutes with a 52% success rate, and once he has an opponent taken down to the ground, his Sambo background allows him to provide deadly ground and pound and attempt submissions. His heavy volume has increased, yet so too has the damage that he absorbs, with a significant strike absorbed per minute (SApM) of 3.68. He will look to use a combination of his striking and grappling to whittle down Erslan and get to the finish.

Ivan Erslan is an all-round striker with a background in boxing and has an impressive 71% finishing rate by knockout in his professional career. However, his striking accuracy has fallen to 44% in his last two fights, and wrestling has fallen too, with takedown accuracy falling to 20%. He is a brawler who uses his skill to end fights early with his powerful punches, but his defense and his takedown defense have been found out. He takes 5.17 significant strikes per minute, and his defense is a huge liability that Crute will target.

The odds for this light heavyweight bout are now up and show Crute's recent revival and the power of the home supporters.

To check updated betting odds of this fight: Click Here

Jimmy Crute enters this bout as the favorite, his prize of 1.65 indicating a winning chance of around 60%. This is the result of his overall well-rounded skillset, recent performances, and home-crowd advantage. His submission victory over Marcin Prachnio has reminded bookmakers about his groundwork capabilities, and his increased concentration and mental clarity have turned him into an even more reliable fighter.

Ivan Erslan, on the other hand, is the underdog at odds of 2.25, which translates to a probability of victory of around 40%. This comes from his consecutive losses in the UFC and lackluster defense. In spite of this, his solid professional record outside of the UFC and his potentially devastating knockout power make him a dangerous fighter. To a value bet hunter, Erslan is a decent-sized payout for a possible upset, if he can come through with a knockout.

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It is a flash-in-the-pan fight for both men, but Jimmy Crute's recent trend and home ground advantage make the decisive difference. He has shown a newfound mental strength and the return to his grappling roots, which will be the overbearing factor against Erslan, who has shown vulnerabilities in his takedown defense. While Erslan does possess strong hands, Crute's precision with his striking and ability to alternate strikes will overwhelm Erslan. We watch Crute weather the early storm from Erslan and take the bout to the ground, where he can set the pace and earn a victory.

• Final Prediction: Jimmy Crute wins by TKO (Ground and Pound) in Round 2.

Victory for Jimmy Crute would make a big statement within the light heavyweight division. It would indicate that he is as good as ever and ready to fight among the world's finest fighters. Defeat for Ivan Erslan would be a massive setback, and it would likely see him get released by the UFC. The consequences couldn't be higher for either man, or this will be a bout that showcases the best of MMA.