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A BENDIGO mixed martial artist star is a step closer to realising his dream of joining the UFC.
Jimmy 'The Brute' Crute is the toast of the MMA world after landing the HEX Fight Series light heavyweight championship in Melbourne on Friday night.
The 21-year-old former apprentice plumber has rivals ducking and weaving after extending his professional win-loss record to a perfect 5-0.
To the point it is becoming increasingly problematic finding him bouts.
'The Brute' was forced to contend with a late change of opponent, with his original adversary pulling out in just two weeks before the bout and a potential second rival striking VISA issues a week before.
That left Crute to face well-known rival Ben Kelleher, a perennial top 10 heavyweight contender.
It was Kelleher, who was Crute's opponent in his HEX Fight Series and professional debut in March last year.
Evidence of how far Crute has come in the past 16 months, the Bendigo fighter won their first contest in four minutes via armbar submission.
Friday night's bout lasted less than 90 seconds as Crute scored a quick takedown before applying a combination of submission attempts and 'ground and pound', before gaining the win with an arm triangle.
Crute said the bout had gone exactly as planned.
"I was asked the other day in an interview 'how it ws going to go', and I said it would be like the first one against Ben, but cleaner," he said.
"The first one with Ben was a bit of a war and I eventually got the submission. This time it was pretty well known I was in a different league."
For Crute, the win made good on a promise he made to his former workmates in Bendigo in the days before he turned professional.
"When I first left my plumbing apprenticeship in Bendigo, I told the boys 'two years' and I'll bring a belt back to Bendigo," he said.
"Sixteen months later...."
The title win has Crute thinking big, with hopes his next bout will be either against a larger international name, or potentially on a huge UFC card in Melbourne later this year.
"We went through the rankings before this fight and every single person in the division, both middleweight and light-heavyweight, the only person to say 'yes' to a fight was Ben Kelleher," he said.
"We are really struggling to find opponents.
"We've had to look outside the weight class before to find someone to fight me, now this is the second time.
"Now as far as I'm concerned I am going to bring in international names, or go over there."
Four of Crute's professional fights have now come via first round submission.
He summed up what he likes to do to his opponents like this: "We don't get paid overtime."
Crute hoped to "send a message to the big boys" in UFC that he was deserving of a shot in what in the world's largest MMA promotion and the one which features the top-ranked fighters in the sport.
"The was a few scouts there on Friday night and hopefully I have let them know I am ready to move on to bigger and better things," he said.
"We're pushing very hard for the UFC, we want to get on that Australian card at the end of the year.
"I also want to get on the Japan card, but that's less likely.
"I think have enough of a support-system, I'm very lucky to be from a town like Bendigo, where everyone gets behind you."
Crute said not even being billed by on Friday night as "from regional Victoria" and then "Ballarat" by the ring announcer could take the gloss of his first championship win.
One of those who has been relentless in his support of Crute from his hometown is Bendigo martial arts guru Stewart Moulden.
The owner of Stewie's House of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has instructed Crute in martial arts for the past 10 years and has taken on a coaching role alongside the new champion's regular trainer, former elite kickboxer and mixed martial artist Sam Grecho.
Moulden said Crute, a former Australian purple belt heavyweight champion in Brazilian jiu jitsu, has thoroughly deserved everything that had come his way in MMA.
"It's a massive achievement, and he's done it the right way, he's put in the hard yards," he said.
"His title win is no surprise because of what he has already done. He trains extraordinarily hard, people don't understand how much you have to sacrifice to be a champion.
"This kid has pushed himself beyond normal limits, and effort ensures results.
"He's been with me since he was 12, I've watched him grow up. I'm very proud.
"He's like my own son - he's family.
"He's also lucky to have a great coach in Sam Greco helping out with his striking and mentorship when it comes to fight management."