Din Thomas apologizes for 'irresponsible' retirement call after UFC
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- Din Thomas announced his retirement from cornering fighters during the UFC 330 post-show on August 16, 2026, tying the decision to Gillian Robertson's title-fight loss to Mackenzie Dern, saying he had told himself he'd stop once he 'took Gillian as far as she could go.'
- Gillian Robertson was dominated by Mackenzie Dern for the women's strawweight championship for most of the bout but rallied in the fifth round with a takedown and extended top control.
- Din Thomas faced widespread criticism for the timing and framing of his announcement, with many viewing the suggestion that Robertson had hit her ceiling as disrespectful in the immediate aftermath of her loss.
- Din Thomas apologized on the August 17 episode of 'Deep Waters' on the UFC on Paramount+ YouTube channel, calling his announcement 'completely irresponsible,' 'despicable,' and saying he 'stole her moment.'
- Din Thomas revealed he has been Robertson's sole coach for the past seven years, recalling an earlier period when she came to him crying wanting to 'just win two in a row, three in a row' before building a record-setting run.
- Din Thomas reaffirmed his commitment to Robertson, stating 'This is not the end,' and that he 'always' had her back, framing the apology as a continuation rather than a farewell.
Why it matters: The public apology from a UFC on Paramount+ analyst on the same network's own show highlights how coaches' emotional decisions can overshadow fighters' careers; Robertson's seven-year, one-coach partnership with Thomas — which he said produced a record-setting run — remains intact, but the optics of announcing a fighter had hit her ceiling during a title fight drew a rare on-air mea culpa.
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