The former Oklahoma State wrestler needed less than 90 seconds in the cage in his first professional fight at Xtreme Fight Night 348 at Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla. Saturday night.
In a middleweight (185-pound) battle of Tulsa natives, Crutchmer scored a technical knockout over Ron Beasley at one minute, 23 seconds of the first round of what was scheduled to be a three-round bout.
Early in the fight, Beasley -- who was also making his pro debut - tied up Crutchmer in a clinch. The Cowboy mat star quickly took the match to the ground and eventually locked in a guillotine choke, putting his opponent to sleep.
Kyle Crutchmer won his MMA debutCrutchmer received a huge ovation inside the casino during his introduction and moments later after referee Liz Carreiro stepped in to signal the end of the fight.
As a two-time NCAA All-American and Big 12 champ for the legendary Oklahoma State wrestling program, Crutchmer is accustomed to the raucous fans at Gallagher-Iba Arena ... but he was still impressed with the crowd reaction at his pro MMA debut.
"There's nothing like Gallagher, but this was pretty cool," Crutchmer told the Miami (Okla.) News Journal.
"It was just crazy," Crutchmer continued. "I kinda knew it would be exciting, but man, to really hear the fans cheering and the kids out there ... I don't know; I am very humbled and very blessed to be able to do this."
Crutchmer had the support of two great past Cowboy wrestlers. In his corner at his first MMA fight was three-time NCAA champ Alex Dieringer ... and, to help him train for the event, Crutchmer was coached by UFC light-heavyweight champ and NCAA finalist Daniel Cormier of the American Kickboxing Academy.
"Training with DC has been a blessing," Crutchmer told KOTV in an interview a couple days before his MMA debut. "He's done a lot for me as for getting acclimated to this different stuff. Once you have those guys it's a pretty easy transition."
"I wanted to keep competing and that was another avenue that I had," Crutchmer continued. "I've always been in fights and the way I kind of present myself, I think people always thought I would go that route."
After Saturday's MMA debut, Crutchmer anticipates his next fight will be August 3.
#debut pic.twitter.com/pvPbicf9f7
— Kyle Crutchmer (@KyleCrutchmer) June 10, 2018
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