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It's finally time to boogie down in Japan for Dean Lister! By Eduardo Alonso Ever since he started dedicating himself to Martial Arts, Dean Lister's life has been always progressing as he continued to improve as a fighter and was always taking his time and measuring his steps with smarts and caution, making sure he would be in for a long and fruitful run, in a sport where a fighter can burn bridges as easily as one can count to three. His smart decisions, along with his grappling skills and physical strength, are probably his most impressive characteristic in the MMA game and now Lister is likely taking his most important step to date, landing in one of the biggest fighting promotions on earth, Pride! This coming weekend "The Boogey Man" Dean will take the magic he worked in the most diverse places in the past, such as the Brazilian mats in Abu Dhabi 2003, or the fearsome cage of KOTC, to the Pride Bushido Ring, facing probably the most dangerous striker he ever fought in Amar Suloev. Always in a good mood, the American fighter took his time to talk to FCF about this coming match-up, and several other matters on his career, just one day prior to his departure to the land of the rising sun. As Full Contact Fighter gets heated up for Pride Bushido 4, Dean Lister shares his thoughts on the fight game, enjoy! FCF: After you've reached your moment of glory winning the Abu Dhabi absolute division in 2003, you have been dedicating yourself to MMA. Will this be a trend from now on in your career? DL: I always try to train actions and positions that work in MMA and also are effective in grappling competitions. I just train more in Kickboxing and takedowns when I have a fight coming close. FCF: Over the course of your MMA career you have only fought at KOTC. How did you develop this relationship with the event, and why did this happen? Weren't you invited by other shows such as the UFC? DL: I have had many shows ask me to fight but I had a contract with King of the cage and they treated me well. I have had some tough opponents in the event and had a good chance to develop my personal style. FCF: Your last fight was a judges' decision loss to tough Jeremy Horn, at KOTC 31. What's your take on the decision, and what do you think you could've done better in that fight? DL: Jeremy Horn is a very tough and smart opponent and it was absolutely a very close fight, a big factor in my loss was the blood. I received an elbow, the first strike I received from Jeremy Horn in the fight, and it cut me badly. The blood loss took my strength from me, blinded me badly and didn't look good in the eyes of people watching the fight. I feel I won rounds 1 and 2, I lost round 3 and round 4 was close with me winning the end of the round. I only feel I win a fight if I finish my opponent so I don't feel I deserve the victory but I don't think of it as a loss, I think of the fight as being very close than most people know, after all one judge out of three gave me the decision, he felt I won the fight, but overall I let educated fans watch the fight and make their own decisions, but it was a great learning experience. FCF: Are you a fighter that cares about rematches? If so, do you intend to face Horn again down the road, as you already "avenged" your other loss in MMA, to Jacen Flynn? DL: Sure if it is in my future I'd love to have a rematch but it's not as important to me as some might think, my fights in Pride are more important and if I get a rematch there, then that's great. FCF: It's been more than six months since you fought Jeremy Horn, and you haven't fought since. You were even cogitated to face Ricardo Arona once in Pride, but the match didn't go trough. What happened? Was that fight pure speculation or was it indeed negotiated? DL: It's strange that I used to train with Arona at one time, for one month the first time I visited Brazil. I was surprised that we were being put to fight each other and yes it was almost official but I had a serious injury to one of my shoulders, and could not fight or even train. Now after about six months and a lot of physical therapy I feel very strong in my shoulder. FCF: Now you're finally doing your Pride debut, at Bushido 4. How are you feeling about fighting in Japan? Was this a dream to you, and did you sign a multi-fight contract with Pride? DL: Yes a dream come true, I did sign a multi-fight contract with Pride and I look at all the work I've done to prove myself over my life and this is the last place I need to prove myself. FCF: Your opponent, Amar Suloev is a pretty tough fighter himself. What weight will that fight be under, and what do you know about your opponent? DL: My opponent is very skilled and tough, the fight will be under 205 lbs. and I'm actually not sure what to expect from my opponent, he's well rounded but he will for certain try to make the fight standing and won't want to be on the ground too much. FCF: Everybody knows you have a great ground game and this may be your key to victory. But how's your stand up game now? Are you already feeling comfortable to trade strikes against someone such as Suloev? DL: I am much improved in my striking ability but everyone knows I want the takedown in the fight game. Also Suloev is a very good striker and I can't fight in his world, I need to take him into my world. FCF: Last time I interviewed you, you had stepped out of the mat after winning the absolute division at Abu Dhabi 2003. I asked you then how would you spend your prize money (Laughs), so now I can ask you again! How did you end up speding your prize money Dean? DL: Nothing really impressive, I was smart with my money and got myself out of debt, paid off my student loans from college, car loans, credit cards (also from college) and didn't go out spending my money on stupid things. The only thing I did new with my money was buy a plane ticket for a unbelievably beautiful girl I met in Brazil to come and visit me in San Diego. She is now my wife and we are very happy, so I guess I spent my money wisely. FCF: You seemed to have a great time in Brazil at Abu Dhabi, and later you returned to the country for the BJJ worlds last year. How do you like coming to Brazil, and do you have any plans on returning soon? DL: I've always had a great time in Brazil and love visiting every time. The only thing I did new with my money I won in ADCC was buy a plane ticket for an unbelievably beautiful girl I met in Brazil at the Mundials to come and visit me in San Diego. Her name is Flavia Mazoni, she is now my wife and we are very happy, so I guess I am much closer to Brazil now then ever. I think I'll come back to Brazil for Christmas to visit her family this year. FCF: Finally, is your Abu Dhabi superfight against Ricardo Arona going to take place next year? Have you been contacted about it yet? DL: I haven't been contacted and don't know where it will take place but I'm sure it will happen, I've heard rumors it will be here in the U.S.A FCF: Thanks so much for your time Dean, good luck in your fight, I can't wait to see it! DL: Thank you. |