UFC fighter Jimmy "The Brute" Crute says he still lives in a van with his dog despite his growing status in the sport, and increasing wealth.- He says he does so because he "f------ hates" paying rent and bills.
- "I don't really care what normal is," Crute, 24, told reporters on Fight Island last week. "I don't give a f--- what people think about me."
- Crute beat Lithuanian fighter Modestas Bukauskas in stunning fashion on Saturday, taking home a $50,000 performance bonus in the process.
Jimmy "The Brute" Crute is rising fast in the UFC, but even as his fame, and his wealth, grows, you can rule out him spending any of his money on a house, because the Australian fighter hates paying bills and loves life in his van.
Crute earned a $50,000 performance bonus for his stunning, brutal knockout win over Lithuania's Modestas Bukauskas on UFC's Fight Island on Saturday, but regardless of how much he earns, he's committed to his life living in a van with his dog.
"I'm a van-life enthusiast," the Australian fighter said at a pre-fight press conference last week attended by Insider.
"I f------ hate paying bills. I hate paying rent. It was something I wanted to do before I was even signed [to the UFC]. I liked the idea of van life.
"I've decked it all out myself, it has running water, solar power, and I've done everything myself on it."
Crute added that there are some difficulties to his extraordinary living situation, however.
"There's lots of things you don't expect," he said. "The other night with COVID, we've got lockdown, and I ran out of water. So I was stuck to the next day, thirsty as f---. Couldn't drink anything. Things like that.
"It's very convenient but it's nice to have a house to walk around. I'm in there with my dog. The dog weighs more than most people."
On how others view his lifestyle, the 24-year-old said: "I don't really care what normal is. I don't give a f--- what people think about me. I just do what I want to do. If it works for me, it works for me."
Crute made his UFC debut in December 2018 at a Fight Night event in Adelaide, where he beat Scotsman Paul Craig via submission.
He has since fought a further four times in the UFC Octagon, winning three times and losing once, taking his overall pro record of 12 wins and one defeat — five knockouts, four submissions, and three decisions against one submission loss.
Sportekz, a website that specializes in athlete pay, reports that Crute took home a purse of $60,000 for his victory over Bukauskas — not including the bonus — taking his rumored total pay packet up to $115,000. That figure has not been confirmed by Crute or the UFC.
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