“The UFC’s lightweight division is the most complex division in the world. There’s like four different roads to a title shot going on right now and within any of the roads, no one can afford to lose. While I know I can win against any lightweight in the world on a given day, I fell twice in a row. Therefore, I’m going to bow out. Good luck to those guys. I’m going to drop down to 145 lbs and see if those guys down there will embrace me.”
– UFC lightweight fighter, Din Thomas, tells MMAonTap.com that he would like to drop down 10 pounds and compete in the 145-pound division. “Dinyero” competed as a welterweight on season four of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) and was later considered a force at 155 pounds inside the Octagon before dropping back-to-back fights to Kenny Florian and Josh Neer. If he does indeed compete at featherweight he would more than likely join Urijah Faber, Jens Pulver and the other 145 pounders in the Zuffa-owned World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) promotion.
20 Comments »
That sounds like a good idea for Din. There are a nice handful of 145 lb fighters that would make sweet matchups for Din. Such as Cub Swanson, Leonard Garcia, Micah Miller, and of course Jens and Faber.
Din would be an instant force in the division.
This is a great idea for Din. At 145 lbs I to expect him to be an immediate force at 145 lbs.
Din vs Urijah/Miguel/Cub/Jens would all be great fights and Din would have a great chance of beating any of them!
i like jens vs din, havent they already fought once ? it would be weird if they havent.
I’ll miss seeing Dean in the UFC. Hopefully Dana will see the potential and add a 145lb. division. Just look at the amazing fights we’ve seen since he added the 155ers. Best of luck to Dean and hopefully he’s had that bum knee fixed, he should be a force at 145.
I have read on another site that UFC may may start playing around with WEC, transfering some fighters across into UFC & dropping others. Also scrapping WEC LHW and MW and promoting the lighter weight divisions more. Also says that gate receipts for WEC are not as large as initally expected but Faber-Pulver fight should be biggest gate for WEC.
Don’t know the site but Dana said in the post-83 press conference that wouldn’t happen. Specifically, someone asked about the next match-ups for GSP and after Fitch if the UFC would bring in Carlos Condit for a champ vs. champ fight. Dana said the WEC is a different org’ and not gonna happen.
When in doubt, cut weight. All of these fighters lose and immeadiately they need to cut weight. Why do they fight out of there weight class to begin with? I got an idea, lets make a 165 pound Divsion so Rich Franklin can cut weight and maybe win a title again. It makes me laugh.
It’s the way the weight class game is played. If a fighter can make a lower weight class they keep that as an option if they are unsuccessful in their current weight class. Some fighters such as BJ Penn can fight out of their weight class because they are ‘that’ good. If a fighter is young and a little small for their weight class like Diego Sanchez, they can afford to take the time to work on their strength and weight gain program for a few years and improve. No fighter wants to cut an extra 10 lbs or more if they don’t feel they have to, it’s a bitch.
hmm…sounds like a reflex action. he’s a quality fighter. losing to ken florian isn’t the end of the world and he could theoretically bounce back from losing to neer; stephenson did.
oh well. it’s good for the wec.
it was either that or the ufc cutting him loose, din played it smart, he will be a force at 145
I like Din and would love to see this happen, but how could he cut to 145, short of hacking off one of his feet? dude’s already pretty skinny.
This is a very good decision by Din..
While Din is a LW vet in the UFC, and still(imo) has some good years left in him, the UFC LW division is jam-packed with some of the worlds best, and it is scary because the UFC doesn’t even have all the top LW fighters in the world.that being said it can only get better..
Bottom line is’ Din is now in one of best division’s in MMa and could really use the advantage’s he would have fighting at 145lbs..He has more then enough experience, and (imo) would fall right in the top ranks of the WEC..I dont see him having half the chance of holding 155/UFC gold, as he would a 145lbs/WEC belt…Good move for Din..
I don’t know what happened against Neer because I never got to see the fight but against Florian, Din would’ve smoked him — and was — had his knee not blown out. Maybe he wasn’t fully comfortable on the knee in the fight against Neer, only he would know that though. I still think Din is a top 5 LW in the World and it will be a shame to see him go but I’m sure he’ll be dominant at 145 and can’t wait to see him fight again.
if he can make the weight more power to him, din definatly needs too bounce back and if going down in weight is the answer than goo din!
Wow, I agree with wagnerav – where in the hell is he going to find 10lbs to cut? it will have to be muscle, because he wasn’t carrying much fat or water weight.
That said, I think it’s a great move for him if he can pull it off. He’ll be an instant contneder at 145. Those guys are going to have a tough time handling his combination of speed, size, strength and skill.
me too! he was a big lw and not so smallww. he would be a huge 145er. probably the biggest.i thnk faber only walks arouind at about 150, but like everyone else has said its the right career move.
DIN THOMAS SUCKS… HE NEEDS TO HANG IT UP
I’d like to see more of the WEC. It’d be great if Spike would broadcast some of the WEC events. They do UFN’s, why not big WEC fights? There are some great fighters in the WEC and 1 weight class that the UFC doesn’t have.
Din is worldclass, considered a contender in the UFC so the move to the WEC should be good for him. He’ll be a big 145er.
They don’t air on Spike because they are on Versus. Just change the channel. Instead of Unleashed they air WrekCage and re-air some of their Fight night events, generally Tues and Weds.
Mania, do ever see the payouts by the state commisions for the WEC fighters? It would be interesting to see what these guys are making being that all the events have been on free TV and also under Zuffa’s umbrella.
Canada=No Versus. Must be on somewhere…..