Gillian Robertson, head-and-shoulders portrait
The Savage

Gillian Robertson

Women's Strawweight
Submission specialist
Record Record: 17-9-0
Wins
17
Losses
9
Draws
0
3KO/TKO
9Sub
5Dec
View full record ↓

Vitals

Height, reach, and career background.

Age31
Height1.65 m
Reach160 cm
NationalityCanada
TeamThe GOAT Shed Academy
Weight classWomen's Strawweight
Active2016-present

Record

Tap any fight for the breakdown.

LossDEC
Opponent: Mackenzie DernunanimousR5 5:00
UFC 330
15 Aug 2026
WinDEC
Opponent: Amanda LemosunanimousR3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos
14 Mar 2026
WinTKO
Opponent: Marina RodriguezpunchesR2 2:07
UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo
3 May 2025

The Rodriguez fight was the most forceful striking finish of Robertson's recent surge.

Key moments

  • Finished the fight by second-round TKO.
  • Got the stoppage at 2:07 of round two.
  • Showed finishing upside beyond her usual submission route.
WinDEC
Opponent: Luana PinheirounanimousR3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates
9 Nov 2024
WinDEC
Opponent: Michelle Waterson-GomezunanimousR3 5:00
UFC 303
29 Jun 2024

The unanimous decision over Waterson-Gomez helped confirm that her strawweight return was producing real traction.

Key moments

  • Beat a recognizable veteran over three rounds.
  • Won a unanimous decision at UFC 303.
  • Added another clean result during her resurgence.
WinTKO
Opponent: Polyana VianapunchesR2 3:12
UFC 297
20 Jan 2024

Robertson opened 2024 by breaking Viana down and finishing with punches in the second round. It was an aggressive start to the year and earned her a Performance of the Night bonus.

Key moments

  • Stopped the fight by TKO in round two.
  • The finish came at 3:12 of the second frame.
  • Collected a Performance of the Night bonus.
LossDEC
Opponent: Tabatha RicciunanimousR3 5:00
UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria
24 Jun 2023

Ricci fought the right kind of fight to blunt Robertson's grappling, staying mobile on the feet and refusing to linger in guard when scrambles hit the mat. Robertson had moments, but she spent too much of the bout reacting instead of dictating and lost a clear decision.

Key moments

  • Dropped a unanimous decision after three rounds.
  • Ricci repeatedly denied or neutralized Robertson's takedown attempts.
  • Robertson's guard threat kept Ricci cautious, but not cautious enough to lose rounds.
WinSUB
Opponent: Piera RodriguezarmbarR2 4:21
UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. Allen
15 Apr 2023

Robertson's return to strawweight paid off immediately when she snapped up an armbar against Rodriguez late in the second round. It was a classic Robertson finish: patient grappling pressure, the right opening on the mat, and an immediate submission once the limb was exposed.

Key moments

  • Won by verbal submission with an armbar at 4:21 of round two.
  • Extended her lead in UFC women's submission history with the finish.
  • Earned a Performance of the Night bonus.
WinSUB
Opponent: Mariya Agapovarear-naked chokeR2 2:19
UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song
17 Sep 2022

Robertson dragged Agapova into the kind of grappling fight she wanted and eventually found the back in round two.

Key moments

  • Finished Agapova by technical submission 2:19 into round two.
  • Took the back and locked up the rear-naked choke after extended grappling exchanges.
  • Bounced back from the JJ Aldrich loss with a signature grappling finish.
LossDEC
Opponent: JJ AldrichunanimousR3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Ankalaev
12 Mar 2022

Aldrich's cleaner striking and steadier control of range gave Robertson problems over the full fifteen minutes. Robertson never found the sustained grappling sequences she needed, and Aldrich banked the fight on the feet to win comfortably.

Key moments

  • Lost a unanimous decision at the Apex.
  • Spent long stretches trying to close distance without converting enough control time.
  • Aldrich's boxing and movement kept Robertson from building submission chains.
WinSUB
Opponent: Priscila Cachoeirarear-naked chokeR1 4:59
UFC 269
11 Dec 2021

Robertson snapped her two-fight skid with a near-buzzer choke of Cachoeira after controlling most of the opening round on the mat. The finish was messy and physical, but once Robertson got to the back late there was no escape.

Key moments

  • Submitted Cachoeira with one second left in round one.
  • Worked from takedowns and top control for most of the round before the choke came.
  • The bout was also notable for Cachoeira's repeated foul accusations during the fight.
LossDEC
Opponent: Miranda MaverickunanimousR3 5:00
UFC 260
27 Mar 2021

Maverick's physicality and positional control kept Robertson from turning scrambles into offense. Robertson had the experience edge, but Maverick won the exchanges that mattered and beat her over three rounds.

Key moments

  • Maverick won enough of the wrestling and top-position battles to stay ahead.
  • Robertson could not create the sustained back-taking sequences she usually relies on.
  • The loss followed the strong Cortney Casey submission a few months earlier.
LossDEC
Opponent: Taila SantosunanimousR3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal
19 Dec 2020

Robertson attacked hard early, but Santos survived the danger and gradually imposed the cleaner, stronger performance over the rest of the fight. Once the initial submission threats faded, Santos controlled the bout enough to win clearly.

Key moments

  • Lost a unanimous decision to the No. 13-ranked Santos.
  • Threatened early but could not finish when her first openings appeared.
  • Santos' physical top game and sharper control took over as the fight progressed.
WinDEC
Opponent: Poliana BotelhounanimousR3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie
18 Oct 2020

Robertson's pressure wrestling and top game carried her past Botelho over three rounds on Fight Island. She grounded Botelho repeatedly and did enough work from dominant positions to turn the fight decisively in her favor.

Key moments

  • Won a unanimous decision after controlling much of the grappling.
  • Got Botelho down early and often across the first two rounds.
  • Used top control rather than a late submission to separate herself.
  • Built on the Casey finish with another strong flyweight performance.
WinSUB
Opponent: Cortney Caseyrear-naked chokeR3 4:36
UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Volkov
20 Jun 2020

Robertson scored one of the latest submissions in UFC women's history by choking out Casey with just 24 seconds left. The fight had been competitive, but Robertson's persistence on the mat paid off at the very end of the third round.

Key moments

  • Finished Casey with 24 seconds left in the fight.
  • Set a notable mark for one of the latest submissions in UFC women's competition.
  • Locked up the rear-naked choke after a full-fight grappling battle.
  • Turned a close bout into a definitive win instead of leaving it to the judges.
LossTKO
Opponent: Maycee BarberpunchesR1 3:04
UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman
18 Oct 2019

Barber's pace and pressure overwhelmed Robertson before the grappling game could settle in.

Key moments

  • Lost by first-round TKO at 3:04.
  • Barber's aggression kept Robertson on the defensive early.
  • Never found the sustained takedown-and-control rhythm she needed.
WinTKO
Opponent: Sarah FrotaelbowsR2 4:13
UFC 240
27 Jul 2019

The finish stood out because it came from top pressure and damage rather than the submissions that usually define her best work.

Key moments

  • Scored her first professional knockout win.
  • Stopped Frota with elbows at 4:13 of the second round.
  • Did it on home soil in Edmonton.
  • Showed she could convert top control into a striking finish as well as submissions.
WinSUB
Opponent: Veronica Macedorear naked chokeR2 3:27
UFC Fight Night: Blachowicz vs. Santos
23 Feb 2019

Robertson returned to her strongest lane in Prague by submitting Macedo in the second round. The bout reinforced how dangerous she is once opponents give her the back or allow extended grappling exchanges.

Key moments

  • Finished Macedo by rear-naked choke in round two.
  • Earned her third UFC victory with another submission.
  • Rebounded cleanly from the Mayra Bueno Silva loss.
  • Added to the early Octagon identity built around relentless grappling.
LossSUB
Opponent: Mayra Bueno SilvaarmbarR1 4:55
UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders
22 Sep 2018
WinSUB
Opponent: Molly McCannrear-naked chokeR2 2:05
UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Till
27 May 2018

Robertson spoiled McCann's homecoming in Liverpool by dragging the fight into her world and finishing in the second round. McCann survived heavy ground work early, but Robertson found the choke the next time the fight hit the mat.

Key moments

  • Won by technical submission in round two.
  • Punished McCann with ground work before the rear-naked choke.
  • Secured her second UFC win in as many appearances.
  • Showed immediately that her grappling translated at UFC level.
WinSUB
Opponent: Emily WhitmirearmbarR1 2:12
The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion Finale
1 Dec 2017

Robertson made the most of her first official UFC fight by submitting fellow TUF 26 alum Whitmire in just over two minutes. The quick armbar immediately established the grappling threat she would build on for years.

Key moments

  • Official UFC debut win at the TUF 26 Finale.
  • Submitted Whitmire with an armbar 2:12 into round one.
  • Returned to flyweight for the fight.
WinSUB
Opponent: Hannah Cifersrear-naked chokeR2 4:12
Next Level Fight Club 7
13 May 2017

Robertson beat future UFC strawweight Hannah Cifers on the regional scene by finding a second-round rear-naked choke.

Key moments

  • Finished Cifers late in the second round.
  • Won by rear-naked choke at 4:12.
  • Beat a future UFC opponent before either woman reached the promotion.
LossDEC
Opponent: Cynthia CalvillounanimousR3 3:00
Global Knockout 8
19 Nov 2016
WinSUB
Opponent: Miki RogersarmbarR1 4:16
Atlas Fights 29
22 Oct 2016

Robertson earned her first pro finish by armbar when she submitted Rogers late in the opening round.

Key moments

  • Tapped Rogers with an armbar at 4:16 of round one.
  • Recorded her first professional submission win.
  • Returned to strawweight for the bout.
  • Moved back above .500 at 2-1.
WinDEC
Opponent: Monica MedinaunanimousR3 3:00
Blood and Sand 20
13 Aug 2016

It was a straightforward regional decision, but it gave her the reset she needed after the Hannah Goldy debut loss.

Key moments

  • Won a unanimous decision over three rounds.
  • Scored her first professional victory.
  • Made her flyweight debut in the process.
LossDEC
Opponent: Hannah GoldyunanimousR3 3:00
Island Fights 37
11 Mar 2016

Robertson's professional debut ended in a decision loss to Goldy over three short rounds in Pensacola.

Key moments

  • Professional debut bout.
  • Lost a unanimous decision after three rounds.
  • Fought at strawweight under the Island Fights banner.

The Read

Style, strengths, and defining traits.

Robertson's game has always been easiest to understand once the fight hits the mat. She is one of the more reliable back-takers and submission hunters in the division, and the nine submission wins match the visual identity of a fighter who keeps chasing position until something opens.

The move back to strawweight has given her recent run a second life. Wins over Polyana Viana, Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Luana Pinheiro, Marina Rodriguez and Amanda Lemos turned her from a useful action fighter into a real ranked factor at 115.

Signature Fights

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See all Gillian Robertson videos in the library