Condit/Lytle set for UFC 127

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Carlos Condit and Chris Lytle (Pictured) will square off in 2011, and the bout will likely take place at UFC 127 on Feb. 27 in Australia. Sherdog.com confirmed the matchup Thursday with a source close to the negotiations who also relayed the possibility of the fight taking place Down Under.

Condit told MMAjunkie.com earlier this week he had declined a bout with Jon Fitch at UFC 126 in February. The Greg Jackson-trained welterweight cited timing as his main concern, as he did not believe the Feb. 5 deadline would give him enough time to prepare. Lytle has named Condit as an opponent he would like to face, and Condit said he would welcome such a matchup, as well as a fight against Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts teammate Diego Sanchez.

Condit is fresh off a devastating “Knockout of the Night” performance against Brit Dan Hardy at UFC 120 in London. The New Mexican is a former World Extreme Cagefighting welterweight champion and has finished all but one of his 26 victims by either knockout or submission. The 26-year-old is on a three-fight winning streak since dropping his promotional debut to tough Dane Martin Kampmann at UFC Fight Night 18 last year. Condit has won 11 of his last 12 bouts and was awarded “Fight of the Night” honors for his exhilarating, come-from-behind TKO victory over young gun Rory MacDonald at UFC 115 in June.

Lytle is a true veteran of the sport, having begun his career back in 1999. “Lights Out” has 52 career battles under his belt and has submitted 19 of his opponents along the way. A contestant on the fourth season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which featured experienced competitors hoping for another shot at the big time, Lytle advanced to the final against Matt Serra. The stocky New Yorker eked out a split decision victory over Lytle, but the Indianan returned the favor four years later at UFC 119 in his home town of Indianapolis. A professional boxer as well as mixed martial artist, Lytle peppered the smaller Serra with punches for three rounds, earning a unanimous decision and evening the score.

Condit calls out Jon Fitch, but he got Chris Lytle instead, who I feel is a better match-up for him. Fitch would've taken him down at will and probably win a unanimous decision unless Condit can pull something off from his back.

Lytle fights his ass off in every single fight. This fight should be a good one.

Both fighters sometimes fight to their opponents strengths (Condit on purpose to show he can beat them, Lytle a little more accidental), but this fight is pretty even on both ends. Both can definitely hang on their feet and both are comfortable on the ground. I think this is an exciting fight no matter where it goes.

If Condit wins, do you think this gets him closer to a title shot?

Well every win should, but Lytle hasn't been built up like a top contender yet. If Condit wins, he'll probably need at least one more win over someone at the top like a Jon Fitch (which is why he challenged him IMO) or Alves (if he can ever make weight...).