Longtime UFC veteran Chris Lytle has paired with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department to create a Police Athletic League club devoted to boxing, wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.Designed to provide kids with high-level instruction and academic support and mentoring at no cost, the Indy PAL MMA club is the country's second Police Athletic League program devoted to the disciplines that make up mixed martial arts.
The club has elected not to ask the city for funding and is instead hoping to secure a $50,000 grant from Pepsi's Refresh Everything program – and Lytle and his fellow trainers are turning to the MMA community to ask for support.
From now until May 31, MMA supporters can vote once each day on Indy Pal MMA's official Refresh Everything listing. Additionally, supporters can also vote by texting 106352 to "Pepsi" (73774).
Indianapolis detective and MMA trainer Pat McPherson believes the program can do wonders in the community and thinks it's important to note that fighting is not at the center of the message.
"People might think this is just about fighting, but quite honestly it's about transforming lives, teaching kids structure and discipline and the value of hard work," McPherson stated.
Lytle, a full-time firefighter and Indianapolis native, has been fighting professionally since 1999. "Lights Out" made his UFC debut in 2000 and has since fought 19 times in the octagon.
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