Chris Lytle already has a main event fight against Dan Hardy at UFC Live 5 coming up next month, but that’s not stopping the longtime welterweight and full-time firefighter from keeping an eye on his future.

A future that might surprise some people.

According to a press release on Friday, Lytle has formed an exploratory committee to examine a possible run for the state house in his home state of Illinois. He said he’ll run as a Republican. 

“I'm thinking about running because I feel we need new faces in  there with the right intentions,” Lytle said in the release. “My main concern is helping make Indiana a good economic environment for us and our children.  I want to see if a normal blue-collar worker can make a difference.”

The 36-year-old slugger has long been regarded as one of the most exciting fighters in the 170-pound division. In 2009-10, he won four fights in a row, prompting talk that he might make one final run at the welterweight title before dropping a surprise unanimous decision loss to Brian Ebersole at UFC 127 in February.

If he concludes a run for office is in the cards, Lytle said he’ll pursue a seat in the state senate in District 28 or a spot in the state house of representative in District 53, both of which include his hometown of New Palestine, Ill.

It’s unknown if these aspirations would mean the end of Lytle’s 13-year MMA career. For now, he said he’s focusing only on Dan Hardy and will make a decision about his future following their fight in Milwaukee on Aug. 14.

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Julie Jacobson / AP

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