Din Thomas Catches Fury From MMA Fans After Coaching U-Turn Following Gillian Robertson Drama

Longtime UFC analyst Din Thomas further increases scrutiny on himself by claiming to corner Sean Brady at UFC Vegas 124.

Din Thomas Catches Fury From MMA Fans After Coaching U-Turn Following Gillian Robertson Drama

Din Thomas continues to get flak for comments on Gillian Robertson (via MMA Fighting)

Din Thomas has faced scrutiny after retiring from cornering fighters following Gillian Robertson’s title loss to Mackenzie Dern at UFC 330. The longtime American Top Team associate believed Robertson had not reached her full potential. That belief became a major factor in Thomas deciding to step away from cornering fighters.

The controversy intensified after Thomas apologized to Robertson for announcing his retirement following her UFC 330 defeat. He acknowledged the timing was poor and apologized for overshadowing her title fight. However, Robertson rejected the apology, questioning its sincerity and leaving their disagreement unresolved.

Din Thomas remains part of Deep Waters, hosting the show alongside veterans Dustin Poirier, Chris Weidman, and Jorge Masvidal. Weidman asked whether Thomas would corner Sean Brady against Gabriel Bonfim at UFC Vegas 124. Thomas confirmed he would, raising questions about his credibility after announcing his retirement.

However, Thomas’ return claims quickly put the Deep Waters panel in an awkward position, as his co-hosts could no longer defend his retirement stance. Weidman looked disappointed, while Poirier questioned whether Thomas was joking about returning. Poirier had also recently faced controversy following an arrest for public drunkenness.

This is not the first time Thomas has faced scrutiny from UFC fans over his controversial opinions. The former fighter previously drew criticism after suggesting then-UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev should be traded to the PFL. Thomas proposed receiving undefeated star Dakota Ditcheva in return.

The feud with Robertson is more heated given her status as a UFC veteran who entered UFC 330 on a five-fight winning streak. She has competed in the UFC since 2018 and holds notable wins over Amanda Lemos and Polyana Viana. Her experience and momentum made the fallout with Thomas especially significant after her title fight loss.

Brady is set to return after his victory over Joaquin Buckley, facing a dangerous young contender in Bonfim next. Bonfim enters after dominating former UFC champion Belal Muhammad for a unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 118. Thomas’ recent controversy now raises doubts over whether Brady will keep him in his corner.

Din Thomas now faces growing scrutiny over his decisions and comments surrounding Robertson’s UFC 330 loss. Even UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has called out Thomas over the situation. With Brady’s fight approaching, the UFC analyst’s next move could determine whether the controversy continues to follow him.

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UFC veteran blames Din Thomas for leaking information in 2016

Tyron Woodley and Din Thomas have shared a close friendship and coaching relationship dating back to their years at American Top Team. Thomas became a trusted voice in Woodley’s corner and helped guide his career during his rise to UFC champion. Their relationship continued after Thomas left American Top Team.

Woodley faced Robbie Lawler at UFC 201 in July 2016, challenging for the welterweight championship in the main event. Woodley produced a stunning first-round knockout, stopping Lawler with a right hand at 2:12. The victory ended Lawler’s title reign and made Woodley the UFC welterweight champion.

Din Thomas
Din Thomas (via MMA Fighting)

The loss began a difficult stretch for Lawler, who went 3-5 in his final eight UFC fights before retiring at UFC 290 in 2023. As the Gillian Robertson controversy continues, Kelvin Gastelum has now accused Thomas of leaking information from Lawler’s camp.

This is the same individual who acted as a mole during Robbie Lawler’s camp, leaking crucial preparation details to Tyron Woodley’s team ahead of their fight.A fight Woodley ultimately won via a brutal first round knockout.His latest apology feels less like genuine remorse and more like a calculated response to public outrage. True character is revealed in how we act when no one is watching, not how we damage control when the world finds out.

Kelvin Gastelum via X

Interestingly, Woodley handed Gastelum his first career loss just one fight before defeating Lawler for the welterweight title. That connection adds another layer to Gastelum’s renewed allegations surrounding Thomas and the 2016 matchup. With Din Thomas already facing scrutiny over Robertson, the controversy has resurfaced.

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