Embarked on perhaps his final UFC title run, Lytle not content with being "in the mix"

Sitting behind the mic at the press conference following his win over Matt Serra at UFC 119, Chris Lytle (30-17-5 MMA, 9-9 UFC) heard UFC president Dana White use a phrase he'd heard often to describe fighters on the ramp to a title shot: in the mix.

That designation would boost the spirits of most fighters. It's validation, and a hint that you're getting somewhere in a crowded sport. But Lytle felt uneasy.

"I would tell them if that's the case, then don't even tell me that," Lytle today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

This could be the 36-year-old Lytle's final run at a UFC title, and he doesn't want to spoil it by getting in his own way.

He'll walk into the cage next month on a four-fight win streak, the longest in an octagon career stretching back to UFC 28. Standing in his way is Carlos Condit (26-5 MMA, 3-1 UFC), a former WEC champion 10 years his junior that's won three straight. The winner could be earmarked for a title eliminator somewhere down the road. Then again, maybe not. That's the purgatory that defines "in the mix."

If the fight, which takes place Feb. 27 at UFC 127 in Sydney, is conservative or just plain sucks, you can bet it will be a while before either of them is considered for a big opportunity. Lytle has seen it happen.

"When they say 'whoever wins this fight gets a title shot' – you ever notice how those fights are always boring? The more people feel like they have to lose, the less exciting they (fight)," Lytle said. "They want to eke out a victory, and I don't ever want to fight like that again."

He's speaking of that pivotal night when he fought Serra a first time more than four years ago in the finale of "The Ultimate Fighter 4." On the line was a shot at welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. It was an unheard of opportunity for two veterans who had seen ups and downs in their time with the promotion, and they both didn't want to lose. Consequently, they fought safe and delivered a real snoozer of a fight. Worse yet for Lytle, he lost a razor-thin decision and saw Serra go on to beat St-Pierre in one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.

From there on out, Lytle, a full-time firefighter with the Indianapolis Fire Department, decided he would never again do that. In the 11 fights since that fateful night, he hasn't always come out on top. But he's always put on a good show, and he's been handsomely rewarded for it: seven performance bonuses – four of them consecutive – for a total of $310,000 in extra pay.

He said the wind that's filled his sails as of late is a bit of luck and a lot of hard work.

"It's kind of an art form to learn how to be super aggressive and at the same time not be reckless," Lytle said. "You can't just go out there and throw whatever because you're going to get knocked out. It's about having recognition about when you can get hurt and when you can't ... and at the same time not being predictable. It takes many, many hours in the gym trying to perfect that skill."

In an interesting twist it was Lytle's rematch with Serra that landed him in the mix. The two went toe-to-toe for three rounds, and Lytle absolutely dominated. His new attitude is working big time.

But when it comes to the momentum he's built in the most recent 19 months, he wants to see and hear no evil. Just let him get in there.

"I don't want to win the worst fight of my life," he said. "I'd rather fight the best fight of my life and lose."

Lytle anticipates the UFC will market the Feb. 27 fight as "crafty veteran vs. up-and-comer." He would do the same. Although Condit has an extensive combat resume, it's likely he has a lot more time to push for a title.

Lytle does not.

"He's in a good position," Lytle said. "It's his first big run at a title. And the way I see it, this might very well be my last.

"To knock me down another notch and say I've got to start this over again ... man, that's going to be hard for me. It's not just that I'm 36. I've been fighting for 13 years. I don't have time to keep starting over. I just can't keep doing it."

Regardless of what comes of Lytle's time "in the mix," though, he's not fighting because he has few other options. At this point, it's about reaching a personal goal to become champion.

Lytle hopes Condit, too, will put the hype aside when they meet. There's a show to put on. Forget the welterweight ladder for a second and let it fly.

He's put in the work, and it's all gravy from here.