Gillian Robertson failed to secure her first UFC championship when she challenged for strawweight gold in Saturday’s UFC 330 co-main event against the champion Mackenzie Dern. Yet it was her longtime coach, Din Thomas, who caused an even bigger stir with his comments after the fight this past weekend in Philadelphia. On the UFC 330 post-fight show, Thomas, who worked as one of Robertson's cornermen for her unanimous decision loss, announced his retirement from cornering fighters in the hours after Robertson's loss. Thomas, 49, spoke about the stress and work involved in cornering, but ultimately received backlash aplenty throughout the MMA community after stating he believes Robertson, 31, had likely reached her ceiling in the sport.
Din Thomas announced that he is retiring from cornering fighters 📺 @paramountpluspic.twitter.com/zdkW27eVxk — UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) August 16, 2026
"I told myself I would continue to do this until I took Gillian as far as she could go. I think that might be as far as she can go, and I am officially retiring from cornering fighters tonight. "I've been sitting on that, and I'm telling you now. I told myself I would do this with her, and see her journey out, and take her as far as I think she can go. This might be as far as she can go."
Appearing on his ”Deep Waters” podcast on Monday, Thomas issued an apology for what he considered poor timing in making the decision publicly in the manner he did. "I vowed when Tyron Woodley got knocked out by Jake Paul [in 2021], this was my last time doing this," Thomas said. "But I took on Gillian, and I have to say, Saturday night was the most inappropriate time for me to bring up the fact that I did not want to corner again. It was completely irresponsible. It was despicable. I shouldn't have done it. I should have waited until maybe even today — a different time — rather than take away her moment. "This is a young lady I have worked with throughout her entire career. The last seven years, it's just been me and her working endlessly together."
Din Thomas starts out Deep Waters by apologizing to his fighter, Gillian Robertson, after #UFC330 👇 [ Deep Waters LIVE on @ParamountPlus & YouTube ] pic.twitter.com/yhjfO4l9tU — UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) August 17, 2026
Robertson (17-9 MMA, 14-7 UFC) had an impressive five-fight win streak snapped in her loss to Dern. "The Savage" joined the promotion through the flyweight season of “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2017. She and Thomas began working together in the subsequent years, as she climbed her way through the UFC’s ladder with only six pro fights to her name. Speaking Monday, Thomas recalled moments throughout her career when Robertson would cry and express her desire to put together lengthy win streaks. She eventually did and rightfully earned her title opportunity at UFC 33O. And even without Thomas cornering her directly moving forward, he wanted to clarify that he's not flat-out abandoning his pupil. "She's broken records, and I selfishly stole her moment that night, and instead of congratulating her on her run, I stole her moment. I want to apologize to her for that," Thomas said. "I was completely wrong. I'm ashamed. I'm embarrassed. But I'm not too big to say I'm sorry. "For her, Gillian, I love you. I got your back. I've always had your back. This is not the end, and I want you to know I'm always here for you, and I'm always going to support you. Whatever you need, I'm always here for you, the same way I always have been for the last seven years when it was just us."