When Chris Lytle left the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, WI on Sunday night, not only was he the winner of the main event of the UFC on Versus 5 fight card, but he was $130,000 richer in bonus money, the owner of two UFC records as well as the owner of a 2012 Harley Davidson. All in all, not a bad way to end a career.
News broke late on Saturday night that Lytle’s fight against Dan Hardy on Sunday would be the last of his long MMA career. NBCSports.com reported that Lytle had handed UFC president Dana White a note at Saturday’s weigh-in detailing his retirement plan. “I wanted to tell them before I told anybody else. I think I owe them that,” Lytle told NBCSports.
The main event was set up perfectly: two fighters that loved to stand and bang, Hardy looking to end a three-fight losing skid and Lytle looking to go out on a high note—a dream scenario for the fans.
Hardy and Lytle stood toe-to-toe and traded punches for more than 14 minutes, but it was not a strike that ended the fight, it was a Hardy takedown attempt. Hardy shot in on Lytle and left his neck exposed and “Lights Out” wasted little time slapping on a guillotine choke that left Hardy little choice but to tap or go to sleep; he elected to tap.
After the fight MMAJunkie.com reported that the UFC had awarded Lytle “Fight of the Night” and “Submission of the Night” bonuses, each worth $65,000. The two bonuses put him atop the all time leader board in UFC “Fight Night” bonuses with 10. The “Fight of the Night” bonus put him in first place all time with six “Fight of the Night” bonuses. All told, Lytle has pocketed over $500,000 in fight night bonuses throughout his UFC career.
Further, prior to the fight it was announced that Harley Davidson and the UFC would award the winner of the main event with a 2012 Blackline motorcylce, meaning Lytle added even more to his jackpot on Sunday night.
When speaking about his retirement to NBCSports.com Lytle said, “This is going to be my last memory right here. I feel like I want to win this fight more than probably I have wanted to win any. I want the people to want more, like, ‘Why is he gone? I want him to come back.’ That would be my dream for it to end like that.”
While his career may not have ended on the exact note he wished for, I’m sure you will not here a word of complaint issued from Lytle in regard to the reality of how his 12-year MMA career came to a close.
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