In our 2nd episode (#2) Kenny Kim interviews one of the OG's of the UFC! We dive into what it was like growing up in a dangerous area and what drove him to become a world champion. Date: Recorded on Feb 8, 2023 Name of podcast: Mat Made Podcast Episode title and number: Season 1 Episode 2 About Din: Din "Yero" Thomas, a seasoned veteran in the world of mixed martial arts, first made his mark in the UFC by competing in the lightweight and welterweight divisions. With an impressive professional record, Thomas has earned notable victories over the likes of Matt Serra, Clay Guida, and Jens Pulver. One of his most memorable achievements was his 2003 submission win against Serra at UFC 41, which showcased his Jiu Jitsu background. After retiring from the UFC in 2013, Din Thomas has transitioned into a highly respected trainer, coach, mentor, and a UFC Commentator sharing his wealth of knowledge with the next generation of fighters. As a coach, he has been instrumental in developing the skills of various MMA talents, including former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. In his current role, Thomas continues to contribute significantly to the sport, shaping the careers of future champions and maintaining an influential presence within the MMA community. Time-Stamped Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 02:10 - The worst nickname in MMA "Yero" 04:10 - Welcome to the Studio - on the mats 05:50 - Training with Ryan Hall 09:14 - A Typical Day at Work 13:37 - Beginnings in MMA 20:52 - Are UFC fighters being paid enough?28:32 - Jiu Jitsu Roots32:57 - Gi vs No Gi 36:19 - Mat Made Stories51:02 - Find a Jiu-Jitsu Gym58:47 - Best Gym Environments1:06:09 - Chat GPT and Proudest Moment 1:11:12 - Chat GPT - Benefits of Jiu-Jitsu 1:13:48 - What is Next for Din? 1:15:55 - Sponsors Resources mentioned in the episode: - Din's Diaries - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvXzdKJEx7Y - Dana White Looking for a Fight - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VXsb3MPEnQ - Grace Point movie - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20447282/ - UFC 2 - Royce Gracie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5FkzO_Bms8- IBJJF - https://ibjjf.com/- NFL League Minimum - https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/nfl/nfl-league-minimum-salary-bm07/- Royce Gracie - https://www.instagram.com/realroyce/- Ralph Gracie - https://www.instagram.com/ralphgracie/- Marcelo Grosso - https://bjjcoach.com/about-marcello/bio- Ricardo Liborio - https://www.instagram.com/liboriobjj/?hl=en- Mat Made Stories - https://matmade.com/story- Matt Serra's Gym - https://serrabjjacademy.com/ - Chat GPT - https://chat.openai.com/ - Tyron Woodley vs Robby Lawler - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmHmpGhV0rY Contact Info: Go follow Din Thomas on IG - https://www.instagram.com/dinthomas/ Follow Mat Made on all of our social channels to see new cities and daily stories of Jiu Jitsu changing people's lives. ⁠https://www.instagram.com/matmade_show/⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/matmadeshow⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/matmadeshow⁠ Follow Kenny Kim on IG - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/kennykimbjj/⁠ Check out our Mat Made Merch ⁠https://store.matmade.com/⁠ Episode Transcript: https://rb.gy/c8jght Sponsors: Thank you a million times over to our incredible sponsors who make this show happen. Fuji Mats - the best Mats on the planet. These are the mats I have at my gym and they are absolutely the best. Fuji also sells Gi's, home mats to train at home - https://fujimats.com/ - use coupon code "MATMADE" for 10% off your order. Hoist - https://drinkhoist.com/ - Get your gym to start carrying Hoist. It is the absolute best recovery drink you can have after rolling on the mats. Go Follow HOIST on IG at - https://www.instagram.com/drinkhoist/ Share Your Story: Do you have a Mat Made story about how Jiu Jitsu has changed your life? Share it with the world here: ⁠https://matmade.com/story