Jimmy Crute will face Rodolfo Bellato in a light heavyweight bout at UFC 312 in Sydney on February 8, after Bellato replaced Marcin Prachnio who withdrew from the fight for undisclosed reasons.
Jimmy Crute’s got a new dance partner for his big return Down Under. The Aussie fighter, with a record of 12-4-1, now faces Rodolfo Bellato (12-2) at UFC 312. This clash is set for February 8th at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena. Why the switch? Marcin Prachnio had to bow out, reasons unknown.
Laerte Viana broke the news first. Crute hasn’t stepped into the octagon since July 2023. Back then, he faced a tough loss to Alonzo Menifield at UFC 290, tapping out in the second round. At 28, he’s eager to bounce back and eyeing a spot in the top-15 rankings with a strong showing in 2025.
Bellato’s no pushover, though. He’s a finisher on a mission. After making waves with a knockout debut against Ihor Potieria in December 2023, he hit a snag with injuries that kept him from fighting Oumar Sy at UFC Vegas 92. “Trator” boasts an impressive track record: 11 out of his 12 wins by KO/TKO or submission.
Meanwhile, UFC 312 promises fireworks beyond this bout. The night is headlined by two title showdowns. Middleweight champ Dricus du Plessis squares off against Sean Strickland again, while strawweight queen Zhang Weili defends her crown against unbeaten Tatiana Suarez in the co-main event. Exciting times ahead!