[theme music]
♪♪
>> Hey, it's your boy Din Thomas.
Welcome to another Din Diaries.
I left American Top Team
because I wanted to go out on my own.
I converted a house that I live in
to a gym where now I can train fighters.
♪♪
Here it is.
This is the office.
This is where we put in work.
This is where I'm trying to create champions,
and I promise you, I will create a champion
in this little spot right here.
I promise you that.
♪♪
One of my top fighters is Gillian Robertson,
and I've been training her
since she was 15 years old.
>> Gillian: Din literally created me as a fighter.
He's molded my style, and his style is my style.
So I feel like he understands me
and he's one of the innovators of the game
where he's really trying to change it.
He's not just teaching what his coach taught him.
He's the one who's gonna make me a world champion.
>> Din: Gillian is like the badass daughter
that I never had.
And our relationship is more than just
coach and athlete.
You know, she's like family to me,
and I really care about her.
>> Gillian: Yeah, he's definitely a mentor of mine.
I want to be able to think like him in the game.
He's trying to help you get your game better
and get ahead of people.
So it's like, parts of my system of jiu-jitsu
people just don't understand yet.
[bell ringing]
>> Din: For this one, I want you to focus
a little bit more on your distance
before you take a shot.
So moving in and out,
and that's something that we're gonna work with
with Wonderboy on.
You just moving in and out
because nobody really does it better than that guy.
So I feel that Stephen Wonderboy Thompson
is the best striker in the UFC.
And he's got a lot to offer
and these are the luxuries that I have
for not being a part of a team.
So we're going to South Carolina
to work with the best.
[adventurous music]
♪♪
>> Woman on GPS: Please turn right.
>> Din: You like my new wheels?
♪♪
Don't make fun of me.
I am a soccer mom.
>> Gillian: Soccer mom.
♪♪
Do you ever wear sneakers?
>> Gillian: Nah.
>> Din: Start wearing sneakers.
Or get your toes done.
>> No.
>> It isn't supposed to be this cold in Florida.
>> We're still in Florida?
♪♪
>> So we had our Jerry Maguire moment
when he-- when he left his firm.
Why on earth did you follow me out?
>> Even being at American Top Team,
the only time where I saw myself improving
is when I was able to work with you.
A couple times a week,
obviously you're spread thin there.
So I couldn't get the same attention
that I'm getting now
where now I see myself improving a lot more.
>> Din: You can't change though.
Like you got to maintain the same work ethic.
Because that happens.
When dudes become champ, like, I've seen it
so many times, is it what happens is they lose
that work ethic and you can't ever lose it.
>> Gillian: I feel like it's just the work ethic
that my parents raised me was that, like,
even during the summers,
they make us do homework all summer long.
They always made sure that I was working,
like, the whole time that I was a kid,
and it's like, back then I hated them for it.
But now it's like, I feel like it's what
makes me who I am today.
[guitar-heavy music]
♪♪
>> Din: What you get?
>> Gillian: Protein bars.
>> You see what I got?
Hot dog.
>> Gillian: Jelly beans.
>> Nah.
I was going to, but I'm watching what I eat.
♪♪
Popcorn,
iced honeybun,
and a Cosmic Brownie.
♪♪
Ah.
Want some?
Want a bite? >> Nah.
Back on the road.
♪♪
>> Gillian: What do you think you've seen improvement in
just the last few years, last few fights.
>> I think some of the things that you've gotten better with
over the last couple of fights is decision making.
I think your confidence has gotten a lot better
and emotionally, you've gotten better
and, like, that's a very important
aspect of the game too, is being emotionally strong
enough to be a fighter
and put yourself out there and be vulnerable.
Because it's such a vulnerable thing
to get on a stage and fistfight another human being.
That's like a vulnerable thing.
>> Gillian: I feel like almost to downfall,
my jiu-jitsu is too high level
at the beginning of my low level pro career,
where I was too comfortable with getting it
to the ground and being able to sub girls
like nothing, you know.
So then once I got to like, a UFC level,
I didn't really develop my hands as much.
>> Yeah, I mean, I think you've gotten a lot better
since them early fights too, with everything,
like all the things that you need
in order to show that you have the potential
and that's what we're looking to do
is to have a career at the next level.
Like obviously, like Valentina has that
but you know, as time goes on,
I see you closing the gap
and like that's what we need to do.
We need, you know, really, you know,
we need to be ready for her.
So, like all this you know, preparation
is to be ready for her.
[adventurous music]
♪♪
That hot dog was kinda good though.
It had cheese in it.
You jealous?
>> Gillian: No.
♪♪
>> Din: Daggone.
My goodness.
>> What's up, my brother?
>> What's up, man?
>> How are you?
>> Staying busy.
>> What up, dog.
>> Good, how are you?
>> Din Thomas, number one, is a legend in the sport.
He's fought some of the best guys in the division.
And not only that, but he's trained one of
the best welterweights of all time, Tyron Woodley.
So one of the guys that I faced.
So we've been in opposite corners.
To have him here, show me some basic stuff,
it's just an honor.
>> Din: First off, I'm gonna say this.
Being on your back, despite
what the general consensus says,
it's not the worst thing in the world.
You have to think in a perspective,
I'm going to give you guys something
that you can write down and take with you,
is the four S's.
Striking, sweeping, submitting, or standing up
and if you're not doing that and you're just holding on,
you are absolutely losing,
and then that's where the problem comes in.
So you have to be employing one of those S's.
Now, I'm not just gonna elbow here.
I'm gonna raise up here.
[grunting]
>> We got it. 1-2-3.
[clap]
>> Din: I'll come up to punch, she's here.
So what happens is like when you hook it,
you pull this leg here.
1-2-3
To the wall! >> Sweet, sweet.
Nice.
>> For me, I'm trying to find as many hacks.
Just hack the system.
Hack the system. >> I like that.
>> You know, the thing is, in terms of like wrestling,
it's like, what wrestlers do.
You need to wrestle more.
You just need to hack the system.
If I knee you in the mouth,
you're not gonna be wrestling the same.
Just like, find a way to knee you in the mouth.
You know, so you just gotta learn
how to hack the system.
♪♪
>> Here's what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna give you about three minutes
to get some movement going on,
so you can break a little bit of a sweat.
♪♪
All right, here we go.
[whistling]
♪♪
Keep moving! Keep moving!
I love this job.
♪♪
>> Din: Alright, break, back up.
♪♪
>> Time, hands up!
>> Stephen: Closed stance, left foot in front.
I like to step forward with my front foot.
Gets me closer to you. Okay.
>> Jon: Thompson with a flurry.
>> Boom.
Yes, now step.
You got that right hand or you got that single leg right there.
Make them pay for throwing that jab.
Throw at the same time.
>> Daniel: How fast is Wonderboy?
>> Stephen: So, bam.
So I'm using that stomp to come back.
>> Joe: Oh!
>> Jon: Knockdown for Thompson!
>> Daniel: Look at that sidestep to setup that right hand.
>> Din: So like your blitz right hand.
Where do you generate that power from?
>> From literally this back foot.
Boom.
Boom, boom.
So, walking yourself into it.
That's the key right there is that.
>> Nobody likes to do because that cat gets tired.
Bank step, boom.
Yeah, come right over top.
Step with the front foot, that's it.
She's trying to hurt me over here.
For real, throw that jab.
There you go.
It's just that half a step.
You hit her with a few of those,
she's gonna stop coming down here.
>> She don't want that.
>> She don't wanna come down here.
I can hit you before you hit me,
but, develop a lot of power
because it's not just your legs.
Now I got my whole body behind that punch.
>> Yeah. >> Is that good?
>> Yeah, that's good. I appreciate it, man.
Yeah, man, I appreciate it.
Yeah!
♪♪
What?
Don't say a word.
I like hot dogs.
>> All part of a nutritious breakfast?
>> All part of it.
And my Cheez-its.
Alright, you ready?
Cool.
So I got one more place to take you.
>> Where we going?
>> Well, I ain't gonna tell you yet.
It's a surprise.
But um, it's important that you surround yourself
around high level people
that you kind of just get their mentality.
We can't surround ourselves with like,
low level people sometimes and like,
and then feel like that's okay.
But you want to make sure you surround yourself
with people that are moving at a different level,
at a different speed, at a high level.
This guy I'm taking you to see
is a mover and a shaker.
I think you'll enjoy it.
>> So when do I get to find out?
>> When you see him.
♪♪
Look at this place.
So can you guess where we are now?
>> Gillian: No.
>> How're you, coach?
>> I'm good, man. How are you?
>> I met you before? >> Yes.
Good, how are you doing?
>> This is Gillian.
>> Hi, Miss Gillian, how're you?
>> Din: She has the most submissions for females
in the UFC.
>> I know who she is.
>> So um, so I might have her teach you
a submission now?
>> Right now?
>> Yeah, right now, man.
It's called The Diesel Squeezle.
>> Diesel Squeezle would be taking my knuckles
right here, putting him in the neck
and then just grabbing, making sure I'm palm down.
And then just.
>> Oh.
>> And I'm pushing my chest on top of his head.
>> Let's see.
>> I don't know if I can reach that tall.
I've never been submitted by a girl.
Oh, she's strong, America.
Oh my God.
A little squeeze, and then lift up?
>> Yeah.
>> I'm coming for you, Bob Sapp.
>> So, she ranked 12th in the world right now.
So I was like, yo, hopefully we can
catch up with Shaq.
Maybe can give her some words of encouragement.
Man, we trying to make her world champ.
>> So, you know who Michael Jordan is, right?
Know who Magic Johnson is?
Know who Charles Barkley is? >> Yes.
>> Know who Dave Robinson is? >> No, I--
>> So, anyway, when I came in,
all those guys were ahead of me.
Every time I've played against them.
They beat me but not really beat me.
They showed me that they were human.
But I wanted their spot.
I was gonna do whatever it takes to get their spot.
When they got to the pinnacle of being a champion,
I wanted that.
And I'm a big fan of fighting.
I grew up watching karate movies.
And all the karate moves were the same.
At some point, the student has to kill the master.
So right now you're the student.
And you're ranked number 12.
So you got 11 Masters to kill.
And then when you get to the top, you got more work to do.
Now you gotta stay at the top.
Having this is all cool,
but I still gotta work to maintain it.
See what I'm saying?
So I know who you are.
I seen you fight.
I think it's maybe a disservice
that you're ranked number 12.
You should take that personal.
This fight on Saturday, you should end it so quick
the ranking people should be, "Oh, number 12? Five."
They need to, you know, move that up.
But you know, just make sure you keep doing it
and you know, you keep fighting
and you gotta want it.
You gotta want it.
Like, if you want to be the best,
say it, mean it, and just go for it.
And don't hold back.
You got to break some cheeks and break some jaws, do it.
>> Din: Hey, nice to see you again, man.
>> Coach, nice to see you.
>> Always a pleasure, man.
We're gonna get up.
>> Gillian: Thank you so much. >> Good luck Saturday, Sunday.
>> Yes. Thank you.
>> Cut.