WeBeatTheSpread's Premium UFC 284 Crute vs. Menifield Pick

WeBeatTheSpread's Premium UFC 284 Crute vs. Menifield Pick

Jimmy Crute takes on Alonzo Menifield in a light heavyweight matchup that should be a banger to open the main card. Jimmy Crute will be looking to avoid three-straight losses tonight as he fell to Jamahal Hill and Anthony Smith in his last two fights. The books like him to get it done, as he is a -185 favorite. Can he get it done in front of his home crowd?

Alonzo Menifield is an athletic fighter with knockout power in his hands, but he has yet to face the same level of competition as Jimmy Crute. Menifield is 13-3 but has yet to fight a top-ranked opponent in the light heavyweight division. On the other hand, Crute has been facing some of the toughest competition in the sport and has a record of 12-3, with losses coming against the current champion, Jamahal Hill, and former title contender, Anthony Smith.

Although Crute is winless in his last two fights, it's important to note that one of those losses was due to a fluke nerve injury against Smith. In that fight, Crute was winning the bout before suffering a rare and unfortunate injury. The other loss came against the current champion, Hill, in a fight where Crute more than held his own against a highly skilled and experienced opponent. Given this, it's fair to say that Crute is due for a win and could be in line for a title shot soon with a victory over Menifield.

One of Crute's biggest advantages in this fight is his wrestling. The Australian is averaging 4.87 takedowns per bout, which is a testament to his grappling prowess and ability to control the pace of a fight. Crute has the ability to take Menifield down to the ground, where he can utilize his technical striking and submissions to finish the fight. On the ground, Crute is the more technical and will have the advantage over Menifield, who has yet to show his grappling skills in the octagon.

Although Menifield is an athletic fighter with knockout power, Crute has the advantage in wrestling and is the more technical striker overall. Crute has a lot to prove in this fight, and I believe he can get it done behind the roar of the crowd. Any time he lands a takedown, the crowd will erupt, and that should give him the boost to dominate Menifield on the ground. Crute must evade Menifield's power shots, but I think he can and time his entries well. Not many people wrestle better than him at light heavyweight. The price is almost too high for me to back him straight, but I'll bite some juice and grab Crute to get back in the win column.

WeBeatTheSpread's Premium UFC 284 Crute vs. Menifield Pick

Pick: Jimmy Crute ML @ (-185) Bet $100 to collect $154 Ceasars has the best odds, click here to bet

Sprinkle: Crute by Submission @ (+270) Bet $100 to collect $370 Ceasars has the best odds, click here to bet