Chris Lytle on Octagon return: There’s a couple of guys I do want to fight on short notice
Longtime UFC fighter Chris “Lights Out” Lytle has been through more than his fair share of wars, having earned an astounding ten fight night bonuses. He always put on a show for the fans, and that’s why most were very sad to see him go when he retired immediately after his vicious guillotine victory over Dan Hardy in August of 2011.
However, Lytle recently met up with BJPenn.com for an interview, and it was one that definitely left the doors open for ‘turning the lights back on’:
“I can’t say it’s always closed. I’ve made this comment to them before, I said, ‘hey man, I’m not willing to put in eight weeks of training but if you called me and said, hey, I have this possible fight Chris. Somebody backed out and we need you in a week. We need you in five days, we need you here. I could take it.”
“There’s a couple guys I do want to fight on short notice because I wouldn’t have to spend all that time away from my family and, like I said, I’m still training some, I still feel like I’m in good shape right now. And as veteran I know how to condition myself to where I could last three rounds. So, you never know. If you have something last minute, let me know. That’s the only way I could see it.”
Quite an interesting point of view from the experienced combatant, and maybe even a good failsafe for the UFC should any welterweight go down on short notice. Lytle is always one to remain in top shape for his job as a fireman, but it’s tough to say if he’s still able to duke it out with the pinnacle of modern MMA. Two years off will leave a lot left to interpretation. His desire to not engage in a full training camp could obviously affect his fights as well.
But regardless, many fans would like to see Lytle back in the cage, and he would be a good gauge of up-and-coming welterweights if he was at or near the form he left the Octagon in. It would have to be a spur-of-the-moment type of thing according to Lytle’s words, but he could add to the already intriguing pool of talent at 170. Should Chris Lytle make a fast return to the UFC?
