ABOUT THE DRINK:
“Jim & Juice” cocktail
2 ounces Jim Beam Honey
1/2 squeeze of fresh lemon juice
3 ounces apple juice
Shake with ice, strain and pour over fresh ice. Serve with lemon wedge garnish.
WHO: Nine-time UFC veteran, MMA pioneer, “The Ultimate Fighter” cast member, Din Thomas.
WHAT: Jim Beam Honey “Jim & Juice” cocktail, paired with full rack of St. Louis-cut smoke spare ribs wet, 16-hour beef brisket, State Fair Winning coleslaw, cilantro and jalapeño potato salad, and sweet cornbread with cinnamon butter.
WHERE: Smoke BBQ / 8 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach / 561.330.4236 / EatBBQNow.com
1) Being the very first Las Vegas winner in UFC history means: that I’m honored and privileged to have been a part of such an important moment in UFC history. And it also reminds me that I helped to lay the foundation for all of the aspiring UFC athletes of today.
2) Professional fighting has allowed me to see the world, and I’d have to say my favorite city on the planet is: Frankfurt, Germany. It has the elements of everything good about a big city, yet it combines them with everything good about a small town. I was living in Frankfurt last summer when Germany won the World Cup. It was surreal.
3) What people would never suspect about most UFC fighters is that: they are very sensitive people. Fighters care a tremendous amount, maybe even too much, about what other people think. Fighting becomes a way for many to express themselves, and to combat that sensitivity.
4) I have an irrational fear when it comes to: rodents. From mice to rats to possums, I hate rodents. When I was 6 years old, we had a mouse in my house. I’ve been afraid of them them all ever since.
5) Training and preparing Tyron Woodley for a potential UFC title shot is different for me because: of the difference in our mentalities and motivation. He’s a much better natural athlete than me, and his motivation is to become World Champion and provide for his family. For me, it was always about proving myself with nothing but the skills I had worked to achieve.
6) Being a member of Mod 27, the live improv comedy troupe is: a way for me to escape reality, and become whomever I want to be, all while entertaining people at the same time. Fighting is all about preparation, but at its core, you have to be present in the moment. Fighting and improv comedy are surprisingly similar that way.
7) Being a cast member on the new season of “The Ultimate Fighter” airing on Fox Sports 1, nine years after starring in season four of the hit TV series is: a completely different experience. Now it’s all about the up-and-coming fighters, and the production budget is probably five-times what we had when it was about us veteran fighters. It’s a tremendous honor to be on the show as a coach, and to have these young guys actually listen to me and show this level of respect.
During a widely regarded professional MMA career spanning 14 years, Din Thomas amassed a 27-8 record before announcing his retirement from fighting on Christmas Day in 2013. Currently training UFC Welterweight contender Tyron Woodley in pursuit of a world championship, Thomas consults and scouts on behalf of many of the other top fighters in the world today including Ben Saunders, and UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler. In 2014, he further expanded his global brand to Germany, as instructor and ambassador of the growing European brand “MMA Spirit.” A member of the Mod 27 Improv comedy troupe, he regularly performs at the Bob Carter Actor’s Workshop in West Palm Beach. The founder and owner of American Top Team Treasure Coast, Thomas currently resides in Port St. Lucie.
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