Bendigo's rising UFC star Jim Crute is prepared to back up only three weeks after his next fight and tackle any world-ranked light heavyweight on the card featuring the Robert Whittaker-Israel Adesanya world title bout.
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Crute, who won his first two UFC fights in Australia, faces 15th ranked Misha Cirkunov in Vancouver on September 14.
Toronto-based Latvian Cirkunov will be the first world-ranked opponent for the 23-year-old Australian.
"It would be nice to have a (ranking) number next to my name," Crute said.
Australian Whittaker is expected to defend his UFC middleweight crown against New Zealand's Adesanya on October 6, with Melbourne tipped to host the the much-anticipated fight.
Crute, who has a 10-0 MMA record, would love to fight on that card despite it falling so soon after what looms as the biggest test of his blossoming career.
"Listen, if I can fight on that card I'm going to fight on it if I pull through uninjured," he said.
"I'm making the call right now, any person in the top 15 at light heavyweight that wants to go in three weeks after."
Related: The men behind Jimmy Crute
The 32-year-old Cirkunov won his first four UFC fights, but has lost three of his last four and has a 14-5 MMA record.
"I've watched him for a few years now, I've always been a pretty big fan, I know a lot about him," Crute said.
"I know it's going to be a barn burner, we both have finished fights in style, we both have big power."
Crute wasn't satisfied with his performance in his last fight, despite stopping American Sam Alvey in the first round.
"I need to have more killer instinct," he admitted.
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