Dean Lister asks for release from UFC contract

Middleweight Dean Lister requested and was granted a release from his UFC contract following his loss to Yushin Okami at UFC 92 "The Ultimate 2008" on Dec. 27.

Chatting on The UnderGround Forum, Lister says he's motivated to work his way back into the UFC. 

"Listen I had a very poor performance my last fight," Lister wrote. "Truth is that I let my team and my gym, my friends and definitely myself down for this fight. Its not only that I lost but I really showed a poor performance. I had a much better showing against Arona (even though that was only primarily a grappling fight that I lost) even in Pride who is a better fighter than Okami for sure. Things just didnt come together for me this fight. I trained so, so hard, I really trained hard but it didnt work out."

Despite a 4-2 record in the UFC, Lister has not been a fan favorite due to his reliance on his grappling. He's won nine times via submission but none via (T)KO since debuting in September 2000. Eight of of Lister's 19 career fights have gone the distance. To his credit, he's never been finished in a fight.

According to Lister's management Haykmaker’s Empire in a report on MMAWeekly, Lister is already in talks with other promotions, including DREAM and Affliction.