(Lister vs. Leites, 12/4/09. The video appears to have some problems midway through, but you aren’t missing much.)

Dean Lister got back in action this weekend for the first time since the dismal performance against Yushin Okami that prompted his dismissal from the UFC. As you may recall, after that painfully boring fight Lister took to the internet to offer a pseudo-apology (or, if you prefer, a fauxpology) to fans before then challenging those fans to come down to his gym and fight him if they’re so freaking tough. Oddly, this did not seem to win people over.

On Friday Lister squared off against fellow UFC castoff Thales Leites at MFC 23 and the result was sadly predictable. Leites did everything he could to press the action, but once again Lister reverted to pulling guard and settling for a stalemate once his ineffectual takedowns failed him. He lost the decision, further alienated whatever fans he may have had left, and, from the sound of it, even pissed off his cornermen:

I hope that not everyone is too abusive to me in this forum cause I would like to apoligize for my fight against Leites. Even my own corner let me know that this is an abomination of a fight and my worst performance ever, so what can I say??? the first kick landed by Leites set the tone of the fight. While he absolutely beat me fair and square and I have no excuses, this is the blow (kick) that set the pace. This is my bad leg, my knee that I have always had problems with. This I guess is similar to saying in another fight for instance "he broke my eye socket" and I lost, lol so yes my leg was damaged in the first damm round, like I said, not an excuse but the reason I was so immobile and not able to do anything… well from my point of view. I must give my opponent credit and he has improved his striking to an incredible extent.

Incredible might be a bit of an overstatement, but you get the point. Lister goes on to admit that maybe he should have considered taking a tune-up fight before this, presumably against some poor schmuck who freaks out and goes all to pieces at the sight of a butterfly guard.

Long story short, Lister knows this was a terrible fight, but what he doesn’t know is what he should do next. Find a weaker opponent? Spend a year in Thailand doing nothing but kicking and punching things? Quit MMA altogether and stick to jiu-jitsu? Finally get the band back together and tour the country in a beat up old school bus? Only Lister can make this decision. Hopefully he chooses a path that he won’t have to continually apologize for on internet forums.