Upon first impression, one might think that an ex-professional UFC fighter would be anything but an anti-bullying advocate.
However, that’s not the case with Chris “Lights Out” Lytle.
Lytle, a now-retired mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship star, firefighter and author, recently visited Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Connecticut, and distributed 500 copies of his book “Lights Out On Bullying.”
Lytle, the father of an autistic child who has been ridiculed because of his differences, was susceptible to bullying himself as a young child.
After reading this article, I think we can all agree that Chris “Lights Out” Lytle is a rather exceptional individual and not just a champion inside the fighting ring.
It starts below:
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (AP) — A roar of approval rang around the room from hundreds of seventh- and eighth-graders as Chris “Lights Out” Lytle slid a Woodrow Wilson Middle School Pride Patrol T-shirt over his head.
The mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship star, firefighter and recent author visited the students to speak to teens and hand out 500 copies of his book, “Lights Out On Bullying.”
A video of Lytle, 42, now retired from competition, in the fighting ring brought cheers from students, who heard stories from the boxer’s childhood, athletic career and family life.
Lytle’s UFC record is 47-10.
But when he was hazed as a 103-pound high school freshman, Lytle found support from a senior football player who stood up for smaller and vulnerable players who got picked on regularly, Lytle told the students.
“We didn’t want to get beat up, so we would stand near him,” he said, adding that he “idolized” the older player, who influenced the kind of person he wanted to become.
Now the married father of four children, one of whom is autistic, Lytle is a lieutenant in the Indianapolis Fire Department, where he has worked for 15 years.
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