Few UFC fighters have a reputation for slugging it out like welterweight Chris Lytle. After fighter Dan Hardy suffered his third straight loss to Anthony Johnson back in March, he called out Lytle. UFC made the fight happen, and the two will face off in the main event of UFC Live 5 on Aug. 14, starting at 8 p.m. EDT on Versus 5.
Lytle wasn’t angry about Hardy mentioning his name. Instead of taking it as a slight, he said, “I consider that kind of a great compliment. The way I see it, he just wanted to go out in his last fight and put on a good show and throw down, and he didn’t get that. He got held down for a couple rounds. I’ve had that happen to me, and it’s frustrating. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth.”
So Lytle is more than willing to accommodate Hardy. “I don’t look at it as a bad thing,” he said. “My name popped into his head. I like that. That’s the kind of fighter I am, and I’m glad he saw that.”
Lytle holds down a full-time job with the Indianapolis Fire Department, working, on average, 48 hours a week. But he actually gets some training done at the firehouse. And since his 48 hours consist of two 24-hour shifts, he’s able to fit his fight career in with his regular job. “I work one day and then have two off-days,” he said—as if training for a UFC fight could be considered an “off-day.”
Lytle squeezes in his workouts whenever possible. In the mornings, he knocks out a quick, 17-minute cardio routine that is specifically designed to get him ready for the Octagon.
Chris Lytle’s Pre-Fight Cardio Routine

• Sprint for five minutes
• Rest for one minute; repeat

Sets/Reps: 3×1
Coaching Points: Allow for a proper warm-up and cooldown // Sprint as fast as possible without sacrificing proper running form
Source:  MMA Agents
Photo:  thefightgame.tv