Anthony Smith is back.
The former UFC title challenger has agreed to take on Jimmy Crute, replacing an injured Johnny Walker. Crute and Smith will face off April 24 at UFC 261, which does not yet have a confirmed location.
A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie following an initial report from ESPN on Tuesday.
Crute (12-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) was originally scheduled to fight March 27 at UFC 260, but Walker was forced to withdraw because of a torn pectoral muscle. Crute labeled Smith as a bigger and better fight for his career. The Australian is on a two-fight winning streak with his last performance a first-round knockout over Modestas Bukauskas back in October.
Like Crute, Smith (34-16 MMA, 9-6 UFC) will clock in his first fight of 2021. The 32-year-old last fought in November when he snapped a two-fight losing streak with a submission win over Devin Clark in the main event of UFC on ESPN 18.
With the addition, the latest UFC 261 lineup includes:
- Uriah Hall vs. Chris Weidman
- Jimmy Crute vs. Anthony Smith
