(Something tells me they won’t be using this as Lytle’s profile photo, but I want them to anyway.)
Ever since Chael Sonnen’s untimely departure from FOX, MMA fans have been waiting on baited breath to see who would be hired as the next Guy Who Awkwardly Shouts Things At Us Between Fights (I believe the official title they use is “UFC Analyst”). Would it be the recently fired Brandon Vera, who holds a wealth of UFC experience and knowledge of home invasion defense techniques? Or maybe MMA legend BJ Penn (when he finishes crying)? Dear God, could it be BAS RUTTEN?!
Well as it turns out, FOX’s newest analyst is…beloved UFC veteran, legendary bonus-hunter and one-time Indiana State Senate hopeful Chris Lytle! According to a press release sent out earlier today, “Lights Out” will join Daniel Cormier, Kenny Florian and host Karyn Bryant in the FS1 studios starting with next week’s Fight Night 45: Cerrone vs. Miller:
UFC on FOX analysts Kenny Florian, Daniel Cormier and host Karyn Bryant welcome former UFC welterweight contender Chris Lytle to the analyst desk as he makes his debut at the UFC FIGHT NIGHT WEIGH-IN on Tuesday, July 15 and works the PREFIGHT and POSTFIGHT coverage on FOX Sports 1 as well. Jon Anik and Brian Stann call the fights on FOX Sports 1 live from the Revel Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, while Victor Dávila and Fabricio Werdum call the action for FOX Deportes.
Wednesday night coverage begins with the UFC FIGHT NIGHT PREFIGHT SHOW at 6:00 PM ET, with Bryant, Cormier, Florian and Lytle previewing the evening’s action. Heidi Androl interviews fighters in Atlantic City. The two-hour UFC FIGHT NIGHT PRELIMS begin on FOX Sports 1 (7:00 PM ET) and feature four exciting bouts. FOX SPORTS LIVE offers extended postfight coverage immediately following the conclusion of UFC FIGHT NIGHT, with interviews of the fighters.
Excuse me while I whip this out…
While typically, I couldn’t care less what the FS1 team has to say about how so-and-so looked on the scale or they keys to victory for whatshisface, the addition of Lytle to the booth has me intrigued to say the least, and not just because I’ve been hugging the dude’s nuts since back in the day.
Most fighter-analysts on FS1 serve little other purpose than bringing the momentum of a fight card to a grinding halt with the same rote advice and friendship-based predictions we have heard a thousand times over. Lytle, on the other hand, possesses a unique understanding of the game — with his professional boxing background, ridiculously underrated submission skills, and knowledge of how to turn every fight into an epic brawl — and could become a valuable member of the FS1 team if properly utilized. I say slap a “Fight of the Night Analyst” title on him and have Lytle dole out advice on what each fighter could do to make their fight not suck so much, for starters.
DC: “After a rocky first round against Thales Leites, Francis Carmont evened things up in the second with some solid takedowns and top control. What should he do heading into the third, Chris?”
CL: “Well, if I was him, I’d abandon this whole takedown bullshit and just start heaving right hands at Leites like my fists were baseballs, you know what I’m saying?”
……..
DC: “Back to Mike and Joe, who are calling the action.”