Chris Lytle preferred to fight Matt Brown before a hometown Indiana crowd last night rather than Mike Swick in the main event at UFC Fight Night 11 next month, according to Sherdog.com.
Lytle defeated Brown via submission (guillotine choke) in round two before a large crowd at the Conseco Fieldhouse.
Here’s a snip from “Lights Out:”
“They (UFC) had talked about me doing that, but I told them I already had a thing in Indianapolis. I was like they aren’t that close together and maybe do both, but Spike wouldn’t allow it. They wanted me to fight Mike Swick, but they were like ‘you can’t do both.’”
Swick — who is making his debut at welterweight — was working on a deal to rematch Chris Leben. That match up fell through, however, when Leben opted to instead face Terry Martin on the same card.
With not too many options left on the table, including Lytle, UFC matchmaker Joe Silva paired Swick up with Canadian Jonathan Goulet.
Lytle is still on the Zuffa payroll but was apparently granted permission by the organization to compete in the United Fight League event that took place in Indianapolis.
The UFC Fight Night 11 main event is now a lightweight showdown between Kenny Florian and Din Thomas. To check out the latest fight card click here.
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Former UFC fighter Sean Salmon was in action this past Friday, outpointing Bill Hill in a 195-pound fight on all three judges scorecards for the Xtreme Fighting Organization. Salmon is working toward a UFC return as a middleweight (185 pounds).
14 Comments »
That would have been a better fight for UFC fans such as us; for Swick to battle Lytle instead of Goulet. With Swick fighting Goulet; Swick has a btter shot of winning in his welterweight debut. If Lytle’s match with Hughes is any indication of how much better of a fighter Lytle is becoming; then Swick would have had a tough fight with Lytle. If Hughes couldn’t finish Lytle; then Swick would have had a hard time finishing Lytle. I think only Riggs was able to stop Lytle. I wonder who Swick will fight after he beats Goulet?
Lytle is a tough dude, I agree “Red”, I’m not sure how well Swick would have faired in his welterweight debut. Swick already was kind of small at middle weight. Im actually worried about how tiny he is going to be against top notch guys in the world in the WW division. Really, I hope he loses and moves back to middleweight. His fight with Yushin Okami was actually really close. I think he should have hung in the MW division a little longer. His strength is his quickness, the more he keeps moving down in weight classes, he gets smaller and his “strength” or quickness is parishing from fighting guys who become quicker as well. Maybe Im totally wrong and he will win the WW belt. Good luck to him. I wish him the best. He’s a cool guy.
A quick off-note question, does everyone’s comment await moderation or is it just mine? It seems like everytime I type something 5 lines or more, I have to await moderation.
Why is it that some fighters get permission to fight outside the UFC and others cannot?
My point is Fedor—-let the guy fight in friggin Sambo and sign him to a contract already!
[quote comment="124866"]Why is it that some fighters get permission to fight outside the UFC and others cannot?
My point is Fedor—-let the guy fight in friggin Sambo and sign him to a contract already![/quote]
Dude, I am almost POSITIVE it has more to do then just the sambo issue.
[quote comment="124938"][quote comment="124866"]Why is it that some fighters get permission to fight outside the UFC and others cannot?
My point is Fedor—-let the guy fight in friggin Sambo and sign him to a contract already![/quote]
Dude, I am almost POSITIVE it has more to do then just the sambo issue.[/quote]
There is. Recent reports indicate that Red Devil fighters will have to be involved, UFC will have hold shows in Russia, the Sambo thing, etc. It’s a little hard, too, when the President of the country (Putin) is also watching the situation closely. It’s very complicated — not just Sambo.
Lytle should have taken the UFN fight better career choice. He’s a tuff guy but not destined to be Champ. He’s pretty much always lost to the top tier fighters by decision.
Firstly, Im sure the Lytle – Brown fight was a good fight, Im gonna have to try to find a way to watch it.
Secondly, why would there be an issue with him taking both fights? Here we car 4 week out of the fight, and Lytle is unscaved… where there has already been a main card change for this fight…. Spike needs to stick with producing the shows and not worry about who is fighting.
err… Matt brown? Not Mike…. nm!
I see mention of the XFO and UFL organizations up there. Yep, there’s pretty much an organization for every 3-letter combination now. Fedor might be headed to the Association of Super Sambo (ASS) instead of the UFC.
SUX!
reading the head line i thought another fighter was ducking Swick and i’d hate to see Lyte run from anyone cuz he’s a good fighter.
UFC needs to throw some real cash Fedor’s way and get him to sign and sign some of his teammates too, cuz most of them are bad asses! And while your at it hold a UFC in Russia too, who cares, just get Fedor here!
C war: Great analysis on swick’s skills and what he will gain or loose by dropping to WW. The middle weight division blows, swick had a much better shot of eventually earning a title shot at MW. At WW, there is a long line of better fighters that are closer to having a title fight then him.
Note to Swick: instead of letting Okami chase u out of the MW division like a little bitch because he is to strong, how about u hit the damn weight room and increase your strength.
Chris is awesome I wish he would of took this fight. Swick is a hell of a fighter also but Chris would of really tested his heart and talent.
When Chris Lytle was presented this opportunity to fight Mike Swick, he should have jumped all over it. Like someone said before, he’s a great fighter, but not championship caliber. With that said, he should always be looking to take the highest profile matches as possible. This shouldn’t have been a hard decision. Fight Mac Brown in a tiny unknown promotion in my backyard, or fight Mike Swick in the Main Event of a nationally televised UFC event. VERY DUMB move on the part of Chris Lytle.
Plus if Swick decides to stay at WW, he will be at his weakest/worst in his first fight.