43-year-old Chris Lytle will return to fighting – for a bare-knuckle boxing match

More than six years after retiring from MMA, Chris Lytle is making his return to fighting. It won’t be in the UFC, though, or even in MMA at all.

At one time considered the UFC’s fight-night bonus king, Lytle (31-18-5 MMA, 10-10 UFC) has kept out of combat sports since he submitted Dan Hardy in his retirement fight at UFC on VERSUS 5 in August 2011. He’s finally being pulled back into combat, except he won’t be lacing up any sort of gloves. Lytle is going to fight a bare-knuckle boxing match.

The 20-fight UFC veteran will face Lewis Gallant at Bare Knuckle Boxing 9, which takes place Jan. 13 at O2 Arena in London. The promotion announced the news this week (via Twitter):

Lytle, now 43, cited a desire to spend more time with his family as one of his primary motivations for hanging up gloves. He doesn’t need to unhang them for his fight, though, because “Lights Out” is going back to work for a battle of straight fisticuffs.

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