MFC 23 main event to feature Thales Leites vs Dean Lister on Dec. 4

by Press Release on Oct 23, 2009 2:31 PM EDT

dean lister ufc fight night 8

The Maximum Fighting Championship wasted no time in finding a top-notch opponent for the recently signed Thales Leites as another big-name middleweight has joined the fray.

Former Abu Dhabi world champion Dean Lister signed a multi-fight deal last night and immediately agreed to meet Leites at MFC 23: "Unstoppable" on Friday, December 4 at the River Cree Resort and Casino. The bout will be the main event of the fight card broadcast live throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico on HDNet Fights.

"This is an outstanding matchup and I am particularly pleased that both Dean and Thales agreed to fight each other so quickly - no discussion, no delays. Just signed, sealed and delivered," said MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.

"It is a great fight. Both guys have a lot to prove and both guys want the MFC title belt. There's a lot at stake in this fight and that's when things get very interesting."

With the signings of Lister and Leites along with the return of Jason MacDonald, the recent main-event victory by Travis Lutter, and other names such as Bryan Baker and Solomon Hutcherson, the MFC's middleweight division has suddenly become very deep in experienced talent.

"I couldn't be happier about reloading our 185-pound division," noted Pavelich. "For too long the division was pretty empty but now the cupboard is full - and full of names that the fans want to see fight."

Lister (11-6) is one of the most-decorated submission fighters in the world of mixed martial arts, and he holds career victories over such notables as Jeremy Horn, Yuki Sasaki, and Alessio Sakara. Seven of Lister's nine submission wins have come inside the first round.

The San Diego, California, product has numerous other grappling credentials on his resume. In addition to his Absolute Division championship at the 2003 Abu Dhabi, Lister captured victories in tournament superfights in 2003 and 2005, and he holds the event record with four straight wins in the '03 event. Lister, a master of foot and knee locks, is a two-time U.S. national sambo champion, a four-time U.S. national champion in Machado Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and a U.S. national champion in Gracie jiu-jitsu.

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cool, there last show was pretty good. they seem to be getting better and better and have some decent fighters.

by roy on Oct 23, 2009 4:55 PM EDT reply actions

for sure. Pav just lost Daley so it’s good to get some more former UFC names that have no place to be anyway.

The production is getting a lot better and it’s a great showcase for Canadian MMA talent – one day you may see
guys like Ryan Jimmo and Manny Newman on bigger stages

Pete Spratt, JMAC, Lutter, the Beastman, Heath – Nickels, Alessio and now Lister & Leites compile the where are they now file. Also had a crazy Bobby lashley fight.

Add all this in Alberta Canada.. golly.

by Big Zino on Oct 23, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions

And all this

by Big Zino on Oct 23, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Shoot – forgot to mention that those of you who know who trevor prangley is – rumored 1st superfight in MFC vs JMAC.

by Big Zino on Oct 23, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Ewww…what a mug shot.

by The Legacy on Oct 23, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions

should be a jiu jitsu showcase

by brendan on Oct 23, 2009 5:13 PM EDT reply actions

Either that or a boring stand up battle lol.

by rockwell on Oct 23, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Dean Lister if he can’t get a takedown simply shuts down and gives up. One failed attempt and he simply checks out and stops caring. He’s better on the mat though.

by NameNotRequired on Oct 23, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions

both of them did butt scoots in the octagon should be a classic

by nelson on Oct 23, 2009 5:15 PM EDT reply actions

MFC is quickly becoming one of my favorite companys to watch, The last show was outstanding, I’m still loving Pete Spratts win.

by markie on Oct 23, 2009 5:52 PM EDT reply actions

MFC = CFL of MMA.

What a great idea, The UFC should work with MFC to promote/demote fighters. The MFC offers no threat to the UFC, why not??

by MXN on Oct 23, 2009 6:04 PM EDT reply actions

If MFC is the CFL, and UFC is the NFL, why would the UFC take fighters from them? The NFL doesn’t use the CFL as a farm system. The CFL is where former NFL players go to die lol with the exception of Flutie and Ricky Williams (amongst the few that made it back to the big show). It seems like MFC is headed down the same path, where UFC fighters go to die or try try try to make it back to the big show. And as we’ve seen in the past, the UFC won’t use the relationship; of promote/demote, everything is a threat, the lone exception is the WEC. Every other promotion they’ve bought was absorbed, not used as a farm system. End rant.

With that said, I do like the MFC fights lol.

by rockwell on Oct 23, 2009 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

it would be a perfect farm league, they have some good talent and its a good place to send some fighters that are struggling in the ufc.

by roy on Oct 23, 2009 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

except that Thales was 6-2 in the UFC. He was certainly not “struggling” he was dropped because of marketability.

by frosnt on Oct 23, 2009 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions

That and he was granted a title shot he didn’t deserve, most people would of relished the chance to fight for the title and lay everything on the line. He made a mockery of the UFC and most notably himself, disgraceful performance. He should be ashamed of himself.

by Geko on Oct 23, 2009 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Mfc is a joke, who want’s to watch ufc flunkies try to make it back to the big show.There not ever going back they had there chance.pavelich is the laughing stalk of mma!!!!

by KTP on Oct 24, 2009 2:48 AM EDT reply actions