This past Sunday, Chris Lytle fought what is supposedly his last fight in the UFC and as a mixed martial artist. This hit close to home. Chris Lytle is from Indiana, as am I. He is a fire fighter, potential politician, seemingly a good family man. He fought the way that was excited, compelling, and efficient. He loved to stand in the pocket and throw strikes. His ground defense and submission game was top notch. Chris "Lights Out" Lytle had the ability to knock you out on your feet and submit you on the ground. Not many fighters can or could ever say they were competent in so many aspects.
For the sake of the story book ending I hope Chris Lytle stays retired and goes on to succeed in politics, with his family, and continues to serve the people of Indianapolis as a great fire fighter. Thanks Chris, but stay retired. There are too many stories of guys fighting past their prime and disgracing their legacies. Let's examine a few names.
Ken Shamrock went from ICON to eyesore. Once considered the world's most dangerous man, Ken Shamrock left during his peak to wrestle in the WWE. Obviosuly he didn't make enough or earn enough credibility wrestling that he decided to return to the UFC. At one time, Ken may have been the baddest man on the planet. He drew with Royce Gracie, defeated Dan Severn, Kimo, Oleg, and Bas Rutten TWICE! Ken was a pioneer, an American who had submission chops and looked like the Ultimate Warrior! Ken is long past his prime, he has a reputation for taking money from promoters at smaller shows and not fighting or ever paying them back. It is a disgrace to his legacy as an early MMA fighter who took on all challenges and seemed very passionate about success as an Mixed Martial Artist. Ken has admitted to using steroids, working fights in Japan, and not always preparing for fights. What little legacy Ken Shamrock has left has and will be tarnished by the fact that when he fights he loses and looks feeble in doing so. Ken Shamrock could have stayed retired after the Ultimate Ultimate 96 with a record of 23-5-2. He would be considered one of the Top 10 or Top 5 fighters of all time because of his record, his pioneering of the sport, competition faced, and his persona as once being the World's Most Dangerous Man.
Chuck Liddell fought well past his prime getting knocked out 4 out of his last 6 fights. He was the Iceman and he was as feared a striker as we have seen in the UFC next to Anderson Silva. Chuck Liddell loved to strike and keep the fights standing for as long as possible. He had great take down defense and was famous for his sprawl and brawl style. Chuck Liddell is considered one of the faces on the Mount Rushmore of the UFC with Royce Gracie, Randy Couture, and Dana White. Chuck Liddell made his name on the undercard knocking out opponents with kicks, punches, and flurries to exciting finishes. Chuck has a who's who of names on his record. Chuck is also a fighter who fought bare knuckle in Brazil and once wore shoes in the Octogon. Chuck Liddell is a man's man. Their was a time, amongst men, when he was revered in the likeness of John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, or your Father. He was the man who couldn't be knocked out or refused to be knocked out. Then, he started getting knocked out. It was okay when Rampage knocked out Chuck. It was tough when he lost to Keith Jardine. We believed for a moment he was back when he beat Wanderlei Silva, but then were subjected to threw brutal KO's to the hands of Rashad Evans, Shogun Rua, and finally Rich Franklin. We sat by idly thinking that Chuck was gonna be able to come back, but time caught up to him first. When your chin goes in MMA so does your career. Attention now paging Andrei Arlovski! Chuck Liddell went out as he came in and it took us three straight KO's to say, "Enough I can't watch my dad take another beating!"
Chris Lytle be Bas Rutten and walk away on top. Chris Lytle write your own happy ending because most MMA stories don't end in such a story book fashion.
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