UFC 119 Preview Part One: Matt Serra vs. Chris Lytle

Columns, Previews

Finding any sort of compelling storyline for UFC 119 is kind of like finding the Great White Buffalo. But then to narrow it down to one fight and the climb becomes that much steeper. What the Matt Serra/Chris Lytle rematch does have on its side is history as these two originally squared off in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter season 4 welterweight tournament.

That season, entitled “The Comeback”, had a grand prize that was especially rich, a title shot against the then current UFC champ. Travis Lutter, who marched through the middleweight bracket but blundered badly and squandered his title shot against Anderson Silva by not making weight. Serra and Lytle battled to a Twilight Zone-ish split decision wherein Serra won 30-27, 30-27, 27-30. From there Serra went on to UFC 69 and TKO’d Georges St. Pierre (his last loss to date) to win the welterweight title.

Some might say that this rematch is unnecessary and unusual and it would be hard to counterpoint them. But cards need to be filled (this one more than most), and this one will do quite nicely near the middle of the main card where it almost certainly add fireworks to the evening. Serra’s title reign is well in the past and nothing that happens here will affect the current welterweight title picture. Josh Koscheck is up first in December and then, assuming Dana White keeps his word, comes Jon Fitch. The UFC also just brought over Jake Shields, someone who exists on nearly every top 10 pound for pound out there, and they are anxious to get him right into the midst of things after he beats Martin Kampmann at UFC 121. And hell, if Serra’s old nemesis Matt Hughes is lucky enough to draw the same unmotivated BJ Penn we saw last month he could easily claim victory and actually find himself in the picture.

Lytle is closer to a hypothetical shot at St. Pierre. He’s riding a three fight win streak inside the Octagon (Kevin Burns, Brian Foster, Matt Brown). He’s also the younger more exciting fighter. Back in 2008-2009 he racked up three Fight of the Night awards in a row (UFC 89, UFC 93, The Ultimate Finale 9) and is also the proud owner of 2 Submission of the Night and 1 Knockout of the Night awards. He’s still about 2-3 wins away from even a title eliminator.

But even if the match has next to no importance as far as the title is concerned it should still be in contention for best fight of the show. Serra is on his unofficial farewell tour and should have the crowd in his corner. Lytle is the favorite going in (-140 according to the bookies) but Serra has transformed himself into a dual threat as he can both wear you down with his BJJ and, as Frank Trigg learned back in February, strike with deadly results and I expect to see him use one of those weapons to steal this fight.

Pick: Matt Serra via 2nd round submission