UFC welterweight Chris Lytle is a man of many jobs.
In his illustrious career, the former UFC star has served his community as a firefighter, become an author, and even created his own bourbon.
GettyChris Lytle fought 20 times in the UFC[/caption]
GettyHe finished his career with a 31-18-5 professional MMA record[/caption]
Chris Lytle FoundationAway from fighting, Lytle served as a firefighter[/caption]
Lytle, 49, entered the UFC in 2000, just seven years after its founding, lasting with the MMA promotion until 2011.
He fought the world’s best welterweights, including UFC Hall of Famer Robbie Lawler and eventual champions Matt Serra and Matt Hughes.
The Indiana native even appeared on the reality show The Ultimate Fighter, participating in the fourth season.
While fighting, Lytle offered to serve his community, starting as a firefighter in the Indianapolis Fire Department in 2001, per his LinkedIn page.
Today, he’s still currently an active firefighter.
After his fighting retirement in 2011, Lytle also shed his wisdom as a motivational speaker.
He traveled and talked to schools, foundations, and the troops about strength, discipline, and resilience across the US.
In 2014, he created his own foundation: The Chris Lytle Foundation.
The foundation fights for awareness of autism, suicide, bullying, domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault.
As a father to an autistic child, Lytle is passionate about bullying and doing everything possible to prevent it.
The same year, he founded The Chris Lytle Foundation, Lytle wrote Lights Out on Bullying, his first book.
“When other kids are being bullied, it hurts my heart,” he said in an interview promoting his book.
“But this is one thing I can do. People can listen to me, hopefully I can make a difference.”
For fun, Lytle brewed his own bourbon too, selling the whiskey as his nickname in the UFC: Lights Out Bourbon.
In 2023, he’s not entirely removed from the fight game, either.
Lytle serves as a commentator for the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
GettyLytle lost via split decision to Matt Serra (right) in The Ultimate Fighter[/caption]
GettyHe was the first fighter to win fight, submission and knockout of the night bonuses in the UFC[/caption]