Gillian Robertson releases 1st statement since UFC 330 loss, Din Thomas controversy

Gillian Robertson has issued her first public statement since losing her UFC 330 strawweight title shot against Mackenzie Dern, addressing the fallout surrounding longtime coach Din Thomas and his controversial retirement announcement.

Thomas announced his retirement from corner work immediately after Robertson's loss on the UFC 330 post-fight broadcast, sparking widespread criticism for the timing and manner of his departure. UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland was among those who publicly rebuked Thomas, calling him "a shit coach" for how he handled the situation. Thomas subsequently issued an apology on his Deep Waters podcast, calling his own actions "despicable."

In a statement to The Ariel Helwani Show, Robertson revealed that Thomas gave her no advance notice of his plans. "Prior to the broadcast, I didn't see any sign of what was to be said," she explained, noting that Thomas only told her he would address the matter the following morning before going live on his podcast 15 minutes later. Robertson indicated that subsequent private communications between herself, her team, and Thomas have done little to resolve the tension, particularly after he privately suggested his public apology was motivated by ratings and television optics rather than genuine remorse.

Thomas has coached Robertson since she was 15 years old and guided her through a remarkable UFC career that included setting submission records at 125 pounds before her move to strawweight, where she won five consecutive bouts to earn her title opportunity. The relationship now appears irreparably damaged. Robertson stated she sees little point in further dialogue, saying, "I don't think there's a conversation to be had." She plans to take time to recover from her loss before returning to training, leaving her future working relationship with Thomas uncertain.