Din Thomas MMAMemories.com Exclusive Biofile Published by Scoop Malinowski Last Updated on March 8th, 2008

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Status: UFC Lightweight contender.

Ht: 5-10 Wt: 155

Born On: September 20, 1976 In: Wilmington, Delaware

Childhood Heroes: “The guys from the old karate movies of Run Run Shaw. And Johnny Depp from 21 Jump Street.”

Hobbies/Interests: “Watching movies. Spending time with my home boys and my girl. And eating junk food – cheesecake and french fries are my favorites.”

Nicknames: “In fighting, The Dominator, but that was a little while ago.”

Favorite Meal: “Like a school cafeteria cheeseburger – like real flat and dry – with french fries and a Diet Coke.”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Oh’s.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “I’d have to say Cookies ‘ cream.”

Early Fighting Memory: “I used to get into a lot of fights as a kid. I remember getting into a fight one time at this kid’s house and the kid chasing me with a pair of hedge clippers (age 11). ”

Favorite Movies: “Glory and Good Will Hunting.”

Musical Tastes: Hip-hop – Smut Peddlars, Cannibal Ox, Motown – Al Green, alternative – Portis Head, Radio Head, Coldplay.”

Favorite TV Shows: “Martin and Sanford and Son.”

Funny Fighting Memory: “I was watching a fight in Winter Haven, Florida last year. This guy – in between rounds – actually threw up in the ring. They cleaned it up – but not all of it. Then when the next round started and they started fighting again, the other guy was actually wiping his head in it! To me, that was funny. Actually, the guy who threw up actually ended up winning the fight.”

First Job: “I was a dishwasher at a Chinese restaurant – Lucky Cuisine in Jensen Beach, FL (age 15).”

First Car: “1991 gray Toyota Corolla.”

Childhood Dream: “I wanted to be a scientist. I used to always experiment with chemistry.”

Pre-Fight Feeling: “I get really, really focused. I don’t talk too much. I kind of get in like a state of Zen. Yeah, yeah, I look at him (upon entering the Octagon). Look for weaknesses.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Beating Mishima at Shooto in Tokyo, Japan in 2000. Well, because he was just kicking my ass. While he was kicking my ass, I wanted to give up. I just hung through it and I got through it and I turned it around. I waited for him to start getting tired. I hit him with a knee, it opened up a cut over his eye and it knocked him down.”

Most Painful Moment: “That was the BJ Penn fight. Last year in June 2002. I wish I knew (what happened). But after the fight, I didn’t even remember fighting. Just got caught, fell asleep, you know?”

Worst Injury: “Probably when I had a superfight grappling match with Rodrigo Gracie. He broke my elbow with a kimura. That was in Connecticut, December 2001.”

Favorite Vacation Spot: “I’m thinking it’s going to be Hawaii.”

Favorite Fighters To Watch: “Aaron Riley. Man, I don’t know, he’s just always on the go. Constantly on the go, he never stops. And Mach Sakurai. Same thing. He stays really focused and he’s got good timing. Caol Uno – real slick and tricky. He’s constantly, constantly trying to do things.”

Favorite Fights: “Man, my favorite fight is Uno and Sato, the first time. Man, it was a come-from-behind fight. Again, I like come-from-behind fights. Uno was taking a beating. Sato got tired from kicking his ass. Uno worked hard for the victory. Pele-Macacao, man it was a lot of emotion at the time between them. They really hated each other. And you got that vibe watching it. And they really tried to take each other’s heads off. A back-and-forth fight. In Brazil. It’s a lot of different rivalries down there. Egos I think had a lot to do with it.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Intelligence, by far. It’s easy to be stupid, to be ignorant. When you’re intelligent you kind of radiate good vibes, in my book. By intelligence, I mean – not someone who possesses a lot of information – but someone who knows how to think and reason.”