Dean Lister is the most recent MMA fighter to join the proverbial UFC graveyard. The 11-6 UFC veteran has been with the company since 2006. He was 4-2 in the UFC with losses to Nate Marquardt and most recently, Yusin Okami.
It was rumored prior to UFC 92 that Lister could be cut from the UFC if he lost his fight with Yushin Okami and unfortunately for Lister, he gave up a unanimous decision. Reports now state that he is “out of the UFC after asking to be released from his contract.”
A very talented and successful jiu-jitsu competitor, Lister has never been able to bring his striking up remotely close to the level of his grappling.
Lister’s management is saying he may now head to Japan where the most obvious choices would be either the Sengoku or Dream organizatons.
With Okami’s impressive middleweight victory over Lister, this could potentially set him up for a title shot and give the champ, Anderson Silva, the opportunity to settle an old score.
I know Lister will dominate no matter where he goes, though I will miss him in the UFC. His fight should have been televised, it might have made a difference.