Dean Lister

Last updated
Dean Lister
Lister.png
Born (1976-02-13) February 13, 1976 (age 49)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Other namesThe Boogeyman, The Machine, Mr. Fister
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Division Middleweight
Light Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Reach75 in (191 cm)
Style Submission wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu
TeamFabio Santos Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (until 2003)
Victory MMA (2007–present) [1]
Rank4th degree black belt in BJJ [a]
Black belt in Luta Livre [3]
Years active2000–2009; 2012, 2015
Mixed martial arts record
Total20
Wins13
By submission11
By decision2
Losses7
By decision7
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Men's Submission Wrestling
ADCC World Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2003 São Paulo Absolute
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2005 Long Beach SuperFight
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2011 Nottingham -99kg
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2013 Beijing -99kg
ADCC North American Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2002 Los Angeles -99kg

Dean Richard Lister (born February 13, 1976) is a retired American mixed martial artist (MMA) and submission grappler. He is a 4th degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt, [a] luta livre black belt, [3] and coach. Lister is considered a pioneer of grappling and mixed martial arts. [4]

Contents

In MMA, Lister competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and PRIDE. He is a former King of the Cage Middleweight Champion. In submission grappling, Lister won two ADCC World Championship tournaments and the ADCC Superfight Championship.

Early life

Lister grew up in a military family and lived in several South American countries, including Venezuela and Panama. Lister speaks several languages. He lived in Panama during the U.S. invasion in 1989, and, according to Lister, he was "right in the middle of a serious combat zone". [5] After living in several different cities in the United States, Lister's family settled in San Diego for Lister's high school years, where he attended Hilltop High School. [6]

Career

Lister often fought as a kid, mostly due to a combination of being the "new kid", a foreigner, and being small for his age. The need to protect himself led Lister to Wrestling and Sambo.

From 1997–2003, Lister worked as an instructor for Santos. Lister teaches both beginner and advanced students at Victory MMA in San Diego. The classes typically begin with Dean teaching submission grappling techniques from various grappling arts he's accumulated during the years, followed by sparring. [7]

He maintains that it is "the biggest and most challenging sport that exists". [5] Lister does not favor any particular technique, although he is mostly known for his leg attacks (foot locks and knee locks).

It is worth noting that one of Lister's MMA losses is against Nathan Marquardt, despite previously submitting him in the 2003 ADCC tournament. [8]

Lister was a King of the Cage Middleweight Champion, and defended his title several times before losing to Jeremy Horn in a Light Heavyweight fight. KOTC stripped Dean of his title after the loss, even though it was at a higher weight class. Years later, Lister avenged this loss by submitting Jeremy Horn with a guillotine choke in the TUF 7 finale.

Lister lost a three-round unanimous decision to Yushin Okami at UFC 92 on December 27, 2008, dropping his UFC record to 4–2. He subsequently requested to be released from his UFC contract, and has since signed with the Maximum Fighting Championship.

Dean Lister and Renato Sobral fought to a draw at Metamoris 3 in a submission wrestling match. [9]

In the co-main event of Metamoris 4 on August 9, 2014, Lister faced Josh Barnett to determine the inaugural Metamoris Heavyweight Champion. [10] Barnett became the first person in sixteen years to defeat Lister via submission, submitting Lister with a scarf hold in the final thirty seconds of the match. [11] [12]

ADCC

Lister competed in the first ADCC North American trial in 2002, winning the under 99kg division. [13] He was then invited to compete at ADCC 2003 and won the absolute division at the tournament before returning in 2005 to become the Superfight champion, defeating Jean Jacques Machado. He claimed the gold medal again in 2011 in the under 99 kg division by submitting João Assis in the final by a heel hook. He also submitted jiu-jitsu world champion Rodolfo Vieira, in his weight division, also with a heel hook. [14] At the 2013 ADCC in Beijing, China, Lister defeated Cristiano Lazzarini in the semi-finals of the under 99 kg division by heel hook but would go on to lose on points in the finals to João Assis; In the absolute division Lister submitted both Hideki Sekine and João Gabriel Rocha by heel hook before losing to Marcus Almeida in the semi-finals. Lister also lost to Keenan Cornelius in the bronze medal match both on points.

Lister is notable for an ADCC triple crown by winning his weight division, the absolute division and a superfight. [15] In 2022, Lister earned the honor of being part of the inaugural class of the ADCC Hall of Fame and was the first American to be included. [16]

Coaching career

Lister's sparring partner and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Tito Ortiz, invited him to be his assistant grappling coach on the third season of the Spike TV reality show, The Ultimate Fighter .

Lister served as a coach alongside Roger Gracie, Jean Jacques Machado, and Rigan Machado on season 6 of the Professional Grappling Federation on April 21 to 26, 2024. [17] Lister led Team Black Rifle Coffee Company at the tournament, [18] and finished in third place. [19]

Lister returned to coach on season 7 of the Professional Grappling Federation on November 3 to 8, 2024, alongside Roger Gracie, Pedro Sauer, and Carlos Machado. [20] He led the Constellation Network team. [21]

Personal life

[22] In April 2021, Lister was hospitalized due to being involved in a hit and run which resulted in a ruptured spleen. [23]

Dean Lister portrait taken during his seminar in Pedro Bessa BJJ Gym, Cork, Ireland. Dean Lister..jpg
Dean Lister portrait taken during his seminar in Pedro Bessa BJJ Gym, Cork, Ireland.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
20 matches13 wins7 losses
By submission110
By decision27
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win13–7Michael KnaapSubmission (heel hook)Fightor 1January 17, 20151N/A Charleroi, Belgium
Win12–7Rodney MooreSubmission (inverted heel hook)Cage Contender 13March 28, 201232:44 Belfast, Northern Ireland
Loss11–7 Thales Leites Decision (unanimous) MFC 23 December 4, 200935:00 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Loss11–6 Yushin Okami Decision (unanimous) UFC 92 December 27, 200835:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win11–5 Jeremy Horn Submission (guillotine choke) TUF 7 Finale June 21, 200813:53 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win10–5 Jordan Radev Decision (unanimous) UFC 79 December 29, 200735:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss9–5 Nate Marquardt Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night 8 January 25, 200735:00 Hollywood, Florida, United States
Win9–4 Yuki Sasaki Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night 6 August 17, 200635:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win8–4 Alessio Sakara Submission (triangle choke) UFC 60 May 27, 200612:20 Los Angeles, California, United States
Loss7–4 Ricardo Arona Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Total Elimination 2005 April 23, 200535:00 Osaka, Japan2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Opening round.
Win7–3 Akira Shoji Submission (triangle choke) PRIDE Bushido 6 April 3, 200513:13 Yokohama, Japan
Loss6–3 Amar Suloev Decision (split) PRIDE Bushido 4 July 19, 200425:00 Nagoya, Japan
Loss6–2 Jeremy Horn Decision (majority) KOTC 31: King of the Cage 31 December 6, 200345:00 San Jacinto, California, United StatesFor the KOTC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win6–1James LeeSubmission (armbar) KOTC 29: Renegades September 5, 20031N/A San Jacinto, California, United StatesDefended the KOTC Middleweight Championship.
Win5–1Brian SleemanSubmission (double armbar) KOTC 25: Flaming Fury June 29, 200311:14 San Jacinto, California, United StatesDefended the KOTC Middleweight Championship.
Win4–1Brendan SeguinSubmission (triangle choke) KOTC 16: Double Cross August 2, 200234:37 San Jacinto, California, United StatesWon the vacant KOTC Middleweight Championship.
Win3–1Jacen FlynnSubmission (kimura) KOTC 12: Cold Blood February 9, 200224:28 San Jacinto, California, United States
Win2–1Jerry JenkinsSubmission (heel hook) KOTC 11: Domination September 29, 200114:24 San Jacinto, California, United States
Loss1–1Jacen FlynnDecision (split) KOTC 7: Wet and Wild February 24, 200135:00 San Jacinto, California, United States
Win1–0John JensenSubmission (kneebar) KOTC 5: Cage Wars September 16, 200011:50 San Jacinto, California, United States

Grappling record

Professional record breakdown
39 matches24 wins13 losses
By submission193
By decision510
Draws2
ResultOpponentMethodEventDivisionYear
Loss Flag of Russia.svg Muhammad KerimovSubmission (shoulder injury during an Ezekiel choke)ACBJJSuperfight2015
Loss Flag of Brazil.svg Yuri SimoesPoints (3-5)ADCC 2015Absolute2015
Win Flag of Brazil.svg Ricardo MesquitaSubmission (heel hook)ADCC 2015Absolute2015
Loss Flag of the United States.svg Orlando Mario Sanchez Referee DecisionADCC 2015+992015
Win Flag of South Korea.svg Hyung Chul-LeeSubmission (armlock)ADCC 2015+992015
Loss Flag of the United States.svg Keenan Cornelius Submission (reverse triangle choke) Polaris Professional Jiu Jitsu Invitational Superfight2015
Loss Flag of the United States.svg Josh Barnett Submission (scarf-hold choke)Metamoris IVSuperfight2014
Draw Flag of Brazil.svg Renato Sobral DrawMetamoris IIISuperfight2014
Win Flag of Finland.svg Janne-Pekka PietiläinenReferee DecisionMacaco Branco PrimatesSuperfight2014
Win Flag of Brazil.svg Tarsis Humphreys Submission (heel hook)World Jiu-Jitsu ExpoSuperfight2013
Loss Flag of the United States.svg Keenan Cornelius PointsADCC 2013Absolute2013
Loss Flag of Brazil.svg Marcus Almeida PointsADCC 2013Absolute2013
Win Flag of Brazil.svg João Gabriel RochaSubmission (heel hook)ADCC 2013Absolute2013
Win Flag of Japan.svg Hideki SekineSubmission (heel hook)ADCC 2013Absolute2013
Loss Flag of Brazil.svg João Assis PointsADCC 2013-99 kg2013
Win Flag of Brazil.svg Cristiano LazzariniSubmission (heel hook)ADCC 2013-99 kg2013
Win Flag of the United States.svg Ezra LenonSubmission (heel hook)ADCC 2013-99 kg2013
Win Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jia Jing JangSubmission (heel hook)ADCC 2013-99 kg2013
Loss Flag of Brazil.svg João Assis Referee DecisionGrapplers Quest: UFC Fan ExpoAbsolute2013
Win Flag of the United States.svg Kyle GriffinSubmission (toe hold)Grapplers Quest: UFC Fan ExpoAbsolute2013
Draw Flag of Brazil.svg Alexandre Ribeiro Draw Metamoris I Superfight2012
Win Flag of Brazil.svg Ricardo AbreuSubmission (heel hook)Grapplers Quest: UFC Fan ExpoSuperfight2012
Win Flag of Brazil.svg João Assis Submission (heel hook)ADCC 2011-99 kg2011
Win Flag of Brazil.svg Rodolfo Vieira Submission (heel hook)ADCC 2011-99 kg2011
Win Flag of Poland.svg Radek TurekSubmission (heel hook)ADCC 2011-99 kg2011
Win Flag of Brazil.svg Augusto FerrariPointsADCC 2011-99 kg2011
Loss Flag of Brazil.svg Vinny Magalhães PointsADCC 2009Absolute2009
Loss Flag of Brazil.svg Glover Teixeira PointsADCC 2009-99 kg2009
Win Flag of Denmark.svg Andreas OlsenSubmission (triangle choke)ADCC 2009-99 kg2009
Win Flag of Brazil.svg Jean Jacques Machado PointsADCC 2005Superfight2005
Win Flag of Brazil.svg Alexandre Ferreira Submission (heel hook)ADCC 2003Absolute2003
Win Flag of Brazil.svg Márcio Cruz Points (3-0)ADCC 2003Absolute2003
Win Flag of Brazil.svg Saulo Ribeiro Submission (kneebar)ADCC 2003Absolute2003
Win Flag of the United States.svg Nate Marquardt Submission (kimura)ADCC 2003Absolute2003
Loss Flag of Brazil.svg Alexandre Ribeiro PointsADCC 2003-99 kg2003
Win Flag of Sweden.svg Ilir Latifi Submission (guillotine choke)ADCC 2003-99 kg2003
Loss Flag of the United States.svg Marc LaimonPoints (2-4)Grapplers Quest WestAbsolute2000
Win Flag of Peru.svg Tony DeSouza Points (4-2)Grapplers Quest WestAbsolute2000
Win Flag of the United States.svg Sean SpranglerSubmission (neck crank)Grapplers Quest WestAbsolute2000

Instructor lineage

Kano JigoroTomita TsunejiroMitsuyo "Count Koma" MaedaCarlos Gracie, Sr.Helio GracieRickson Gracie → Fabio Santos → Jeffrey Higgs → Dean Lister

Notes

  1. 1 2 under Jeffrey Higgs [2]

References

  1. "Fight Finder: Dean Lister". Sherdog. 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
  2. "Dean Lister". BJJ Heroes - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 2011-07-03.
  3. 1 2 "Cadastro Oficial de Faixas Pretas da Federação". Luta Livre Submission. 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  4. "Dean Lister". BJJ Fanatics. 1970-01-01.
  5. 1 2 UFC. "Dean Lister profile". Archived from the original on 2006-05-20. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  6. "Jocko Podcast 137 w/ Dean Lister: If You Know the Way Broadly, You Will See It in All Things". YouTube . 8 August 2018.
  7. DeanLister.com (2006). "Official Homepage of Dean Lister". Official Homepage of Dean Lister, World Champion Grappler. Retrieved 2006-06-12.
  8. ADCC 2003 - Dean Lister vs. Nathan Marquardt at youtube
  9. "Metamoris 3: Bravo vs. Gracie Results". mmanuts.com. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  10. "Event Info: Metamoris 4". Metamoris. June 27, 2014. Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  11. "GIF: Josh Barnett wears black diaper, submits Dean Lister via neck crank at Metamoris 4". MMAmania.com. August 9, 2014. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  12. Jones, Phil (June 21, 2023). "Throwback: Josh Barnett Submits Dean Lister At Metamoris 4". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  13. de Souza, Diogo (2 August 2023). "Throwback: The First Ever ADCC Trial Takes Place In 2002". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  14. "ADCC Hall of Fame". adcombat.com. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  15. "Dean Lister Becomes First American in ADCC Hall of Fame". 4 January 2022.
  16. de Souza, Diogo (9 April 2024). "Four BJJ Legends Confirmed As PGF Season 6 Coaches Lineup Finalized". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  17. Warrior, Egghead (22 April 2024). "Four Jiu-Jitsu Legends Draft Their Teams For PGF World Season 6". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  18. Warrior, Egghead (26 April 2024). "PGF World Season 6: Best Of Day 4". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  19. de Souza, Diogo (25 September 2024). "Four World Class Coaches Confirmed For PGF World Season 7". Jits Magazine. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  20. Lindsey, Alex (4 November 2024). "PGF World Season 7 Draft Locks In Four Incredible Teams". Jits Magazine. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  21. Dean Lister Comes Home for UFC Debut Saturday "I had personal issues with my family stuff and I lost a lot of my motivation," Lister admitted. He attended San Diego State University.
  22. BjjTribes (2021-04-20). "BJJ legend Dean Lister hospitalized with ruptured spleen after hit and run". BjjTribes. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  23. Thomas Gerbasi (January 2, 2007). "Ten Best – The Top UFC Submissions of 2006". Ultimate Fighting Championship . Archived from the original on 2007-01-27.