The UFC 261 main card opened with back-to-back finishes, but they weren’t the kind that anyone feels good about.
Anthony Smith was declared a TKO winner over Jimmy Crute in their light heavyweight bout at VyStar Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, that opened the main card. Smith kicked Crute late in the first round by the knee. Crute’s leg gave out on him and he wrestled Smith for the remaining seconds of the first.
[New ESPN+ members can bundle UFC 261 with one year of ESPN+ for $89.98]
In between rounds, a doctor asked Crute to walk forward and back and Smith’s left leg collapsed, forcing the bout to be stopped.