Gillian Elizabeth Robertson (born May 17, 1995) is a Canadian professional

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

. She currently competes in the women's

Strawweight Mini flyweight, also known as paperweight, minimumweight, strawweight, or super atomweight, is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing In professional boxing, boxers in the minimumweight division may weigh no more than . This is a relatively new ...

division of the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...

(UFC). As of May 6, 2025, she is #9 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings.

Background

Robertson was born in

Niagara Falls Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the Canada–United States border, border between the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York (s ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, Canada. She started cardio kickboxing training at the age of 16 at American Top Team. She then joined MMA classes after a few months and started competing two years later.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Robertson started her professional MMA career in 2016 after amassing a record of 9–1 in amateur fights. After fighting in five professional bouts she participated in

The Ultimate Fighter 26 ''The Ultimate Fighter 26'' (also known as '' The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion'') is an installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)-produced reality television series ''The Ultimate Fighter''. Tryouts were announced on May ...

competition series and was subsequently signed by the UFC after the show.

The Ultimate Fighter

In August 2017, it was announced that Robertson was one of the fighters featured on ''

'', UFC TV series, where the process to crown the UFC's inaugural 125-pound women's champion will take place. In the preliminary fights, Robertson faced

Barb Honchak Barbara Marie Honchak (born August 30, 1979) is a retired American professional female mixed martial artist. She is the first Invicta FC Flyweight Champion. She has four wins in the Invicta FC promotion and holds notable victories over Vaness ...

and lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Robertson made her UFC debut on December 1, 2017, on The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale against Emily Whitmire. She won the fight via a submission in round one. Her next fight came on May 27, 2018, at UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Till against

Molly McCann Molly Maria McCann Pearson (born 4 May 1990) is an English former mixed martial artist. She is a former Cage Warriors Flyweight Champion and formerly competed in the women's Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Ear ...

. At the weigh-ins, McCann weighed in at 127 pounds, 1 pound over the flyweight non-title fight limit of 126. She was fined 20 percent of her purse, which went to Robertson. She won the fight via a rear-naked choke in round two. On September 22, 2018, Robertson faced Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders. She lost the fight via a submission in round one. Robertson faced

Veronica Macedo Veronica Hardy (; born October 30, 1995) is a Venezuelan mixed martial artist (MMA) who competes in the women's Flyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Early life Growing up in a family with a passion for martial arts, ...

on February 23, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Santos. She won the fight via submission in the second round. Robertson faced Sarah Frota on July 27, 2019, at

UFC 240 ''UFC 240: Holloway vs. Edgar'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on July 27, 2019 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Background A UFC Featherweight Championship bout betwee ...

. She won the fight via technical knockout in round two. In the lead up to the Frota fight, Robertson would begin training with Jose Torres and coach Din Thomas at ATT. This was beginning of their partnership once Thomas and the two fighters left ATT. Robertson faced

Maycee Barber Maycee Kaye Barber (born May 18, 1998) is an American mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the women's Flyweight (MMA), Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of May 13, 2025, she is #5 in the List of curren ...

on October 18, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 6. She lost the fight via technical knockout in round one. Robertson was expected to face

Taila Santos Taila Jaine dos Santos (born June 22, 1993) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist who currently competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). She formerly competed in the Ultimate Fightin ...

on June 20, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Volkov. Due to undisclosed reasons, Robertson's opponent changed and she instead faced

Cortney Casey Cortney Casey (born 5 May 1987) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background Casey is of Mexican descent. A former Division I soccer player at the Unive ...

. She won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in round three. Ahead of her fight with Botelho, Robertson was given her black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by coach Din Thomas. Robertson described the event as emotional and joyous after nine years of work. During the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

Robertson left American Top Team with her head coach, Din Thomas and teammate Jose Torres. Robertson faced

Poliana Botelho Poliana Botelho (born December 15, 1988) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the strawweight division of Bellator MMA. She previously has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and held the Women's Flyweight Champion ...

on October 18, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 180. She won the fight via unanimous decision. Robertson was scheduled to face Andrea Lee on December 12, 2020, at

UFC 256 ''UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on December 12, 2020 at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United ...

. However, Lee pulled out in early December due to a broken nose and Robertson faced

instead at UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal. Robertson lost the fight via unanimous decision. Robertson was next expected to face

Miranda Maverick Miranda Rachelle Maverick (born July 1, 1997) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She competed in Flyweight (MMA), Flyweight division of the Invicta Figh ...

UFC 258 ''UFC 258: Usman vs. Burns'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on February 13, 2021, at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United State ...

on February 13, 2021. However, hours before the fight, Robertson had a non-COVID related illness and the bout was cancelled. The pair eventually was reschedule to

UFC 260 ''UFC 260: Miocic vs. Ngannou 2'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on March 27, 2021, at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United Sta ...

on March 27, 2021. Robertson lost the fight via unanimous decision. Robertson faced

Priscila Cachoeira Priscila Cachoeira Gomes da Silva (born 19 August 1988) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the women's Flyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Personal life Cachoeira had a troubled childhood growing ...

on December 11, 2021, at

UFC 269 ''UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on December 11, 2021, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United State ...

. At the weigh-ins, Cachoeira weighed in at 129 pounds, three pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight with Cachoeira fined 30% of her purse, which went to Robertson. Robertson won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round. Robertson faced JJ Aldrich, replacing Ariane Lipski, on March 12, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 203. She lost the fight via unanimous decision. Robertson was scheduled to face Melissa Gatto on September 17, 2022, at

UFC Fight Night 210 ''UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 210'', ''UFC on ESPN+ 68'' and ''UFC Vegas 60'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on September 17, 2022, at the ...

. However, Gatto was removed from the event for undisclosed reasons, and she was replaced by

Mariya Agapova Mariya Agapova (born April 7, 1997) is a Kazakhstani mixed martial artist who competed in the flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She is currently signed with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). Background A ...

. Robertson won the fight via rear-naked choke. Robertson faced Piera Rodríguez on April 15, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 44. She won the fight via an armbar submission in the second round. This win earned her the '' Performance of the Night'' award. Robertson faced Tabatha Ricci on June 24, 2023 at UFC on ABC 5. She lost the bout via unanimous decision. Robertson faced

Polyana Viana Polyana Viana Mota (born 14 June 1992) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the women's Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background Raised solely by her mother, Viana grew up ...

on January 20, 2024, at UFC 297. She won by technical knockout in the second round after dominating most of the bout on the ground. This fight earned her the '' Performance of the Night'' award. Robertson was expected to face Michelle Waterson-Gomez on June 1, 2024 at UFC 302. However, for unknown reasons, the bout was moved to June 29, 2024 at UFC 303. Robertson controlled the majority of the bout on the ground and won the fight by unanimous decision. Robertson faced

Luana Pinheiro Luana Munize Barbosa Pinheiro (born November 18, 1993) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist who competes in the women's Strawweight (MMA), Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Backgrou ...

on November 9, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 247. With a lot of ground control time, she won the fight by unanimous decision. She was also noted as having thrown the first legal 12–6 elbow under the

Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts Most rule sets for mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions have evolved since the early days of Vale Tudo. As a result of health, legal, and moral concerns, many different rulesets were created, which give different countries and promotions very dif ...

, since they were legalised on 1 November 2024, in this fight. Robertson faced

Marina Rodriguez Marina Alcalde Rodriguez (born April 29, 1987) is a Brazilian former mixed martial artist. She competed in the women's Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), achieving an 8-5 record, with 2 draws in the promotion. ...

on May 3, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 67. She won the fight by technical knockout in the second round.

Professional grappling career

2020–2021

Robertson has competed for the professional grappling promotion Submission Underground on several occasions while her MMA career was ongoing. At SUG 17 on August 30, 2020, she faced Amanda Loewen and lost by armbar in EBI overtime. She returned at SUG 20 for the promotion's end of year event on December 30, 2020, and submitted

Pearl Gonzalez Pearl Gonzalez (born August 12, 1986) is an American mixed martial artist. She formerly competed for Ultimate Fighting Championships, and currently fights in the strawweight division of the Invicta Fighting Championships. Background Gonza ...

with a rear-naked choke inside regulation time. At SUG 22 on April 25, 2021, Robertson faced Liz Tracy and was lost by armbar in EBI overtime. She then returned at SUG 23 on May 23, 2021, where she faced top BJJ competitor Raquel Canuto and was submitted with a guillotine in regulation time. At SUG 26 on August 15, 2021, Robertson faced fellow UFC veteran and former

UFC Women's Flyweight Championship Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions are fighters who have won UFC championships. Historical notes At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, mixed martial arts was not sanctioned in the United States, and did not include weight class ...

challenger

Katlyn Chookagian Katlyn Cerminara (; born December 28, 1988) is an American professional mixed martial artist. She formerly competed in the Bantamweight division and currently competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC ...

and won by fastest escape time in EBI overtime. Robertson also took part in a bantamweight Combat Jiu-Jitsu tournament at Medusa 1 on October 2, 2021, getting submitted with a kneebar in the opening round by Nikki Sullivan. She faced Chrissy Briggs in a grappling match on the preliminary card of Fury Pro Grappling 3 on December 30, 2021, winning a unanimous decision victory.

2022–2024

Robertson returned to the promotion at Fury Pro Grappling 6 on December 30, 2022, to face former two-time

UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions are fighters who have won UFC championships. Historical notes At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, mixed martial arts was not sanctioned in the United States, and did not include weight class ...

Rose Namajunas Rose Gertrude Namajunas (born June 29, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and is a former two-time UFC Women's Strawweight ...

in the main event, submitting her with a rear-naked choke in 65 seconds. Robertson competed against

Montana De La Rosa Montana De La Rosa (née Stewart) (born February 14, 1995) is an American mixed martial artist (MMA). She competed in the Flyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background De La Rosa was born in Helena, Montana, United S ...

in the main event of Pit Submission Series 3 on March 23, 2024. She won via unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

** Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Piera Rodríguez and

**Most finishes in UFC Women's Flyweight division history (7) **Most submission wins in UFC Women's history (7) ***Most submission wins in UFC Women's Flyweight division history (6) **Tied (

Amanda Nunes Amanda Lourenço Nunes (born May 30, 1988) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is the former UFC Women's Featherweight Champion and two-time UFC Women ...

) for most finishes in UFC Women's history (10) **Third most bouts in UFC Women's Flyweight division history (13) **Fourth most takedowns landed in UFC Women's Flyweight division history (21) **Tied (

) for third most wins in UFC Women's Flyweight division history (8) **Highest top position percentage in UFC Women's Flyweight division history (41.9%) **Second most control time in UFC Women's Flyweight division history (54:16) **Second highest control time percentage in UFC Women's Flyweight division history (44.6%) **Second most top position time in UFC Women's Flyweight division history (50:57) **Second most submission attempts in UFC Women's Flyweight division history (8) **UFC.com Awards ***2023: Ranked #10 Submission of the Year

Mixed martial arts record

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Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Iowa, most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is the county seat of Polk County, Iowa, Polk County with parts extending into Warren County, Iowa, Wa ...

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Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...

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, Submission (rear naked choke) , UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Santos , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:27 ,

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Cynthia Calvillo Cynthia Tafoya Calvillo ( , born July 13, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the strawweight and flyweight divisions. She is most notable for her stint in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Mixed martial arts career Earl ...

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Hannah Goldy Hannah Goldy (born May 18, 1992), is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division. A professional since 2016, she is most notable for her time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Goldy grew up in Vermont s ...

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Submission grappling record

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, Gillian Living people 1995 births Sportspeople from Niagara Falls, Ontario Flyweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing kickboxing Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Canadian female Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu Canadian female mixed martial artists Ultimate Fighting Championship female fighters 21st-century Canadian sportswomen