TLDR
- Sean Strickland called Din Thomas a ‘sh*t coach’ after Thomas announced his retirement from corner work following Gillian Robertson’s UFC 330 loss
- Robertson lost to champion Mackenzie Dern in a strawweight title fight, ending her bid to become Canada’s first UFC champion since Georges St-Pierre
- Strickland defended Robertson’s effort and criticized Thomas for abandoning his fighter at a low moment in her career
- Former UFC champion Tyron Woodley confronted Strickland in private messages, warning him to ‘watch your mouth’ about Thomas
- Strickland dismissed Woodley’s threats and refused to back down from his criticism of the veteran coach
Sources: mmafighting.com | bjpenn.com
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland went after veteran MMA coach Din Thomas on social media following UFC 330. The controversy started when Thomas announced his retirement from corner work after his fighter Gillian Robertson lost to strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern on Saturday night.
Thomas made the announcement shortly after Robertson’s five-round loss in the UFC 330 co-main event. Fans and media members quickly criticized Thomas for choosing to step away from coaching at such a difficult time for Robertson.
Strickland did not hold back in his response to Thomas on social media. “Din Thomas is a f*cking c*nt,” Strickland wrote on Twitter. “I’ve had my ass kicked in multiple weight classes through my career and won two titles.”
The UFC champion continued his attack on the longtime coach. “You’re a dickhead. It’s probably better you retire. You’re a shit coach,” Strickland added.
#UFC champ Sean Strickland scoffs at alleged Tyron Woodley threat over Din Thomas comments
📰 https://t.co/frEOCG6nFL pic.twitter.com/qmZkKeutMz
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) August 18, 2026
Strickland Defends Robertson’s Performance
Strickland pointed to his own career path as proof that losses don’t define a fighter. He started as a welterweight with mixed results before moving to middleweight where he became champion.
“You only lose when you quit. Din sounds like you’re a f*cking loser,” Strickland wrote. He won the UFC middleweight title by upsetting Israel Adesanya in 2023 and reclaimed it after beating Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 in May.
Robertson had won five straight fights after dropping to strawweight to earn her title shot. She was attempting to become Canada’s first UFC champion since Georges St-Pierre retired.
In response to a commenter, Strickland defended Robertson’s effort in the fight. “He’s just a c*nt,” Strickland said. “Girl goes out there and tries to do something and you put her down. Dickhead.”
Woodley Steps In to Defend Thomas
Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley sent Strickland a direct message after seeing his comments about Thomas. Woodley and Thomas are longtime friends and training partners.
“Watch your mouth talking about Din,” Woodley messaged Strickland. “You have no clue WTF you talking about, we laugh all the time when you have no filter, but you a habitual line-crosser.”
Woodley warned Strickland not to cross the line when it came to Thomas. “I’m ride or die about him. Don’t cross that line,” he wrote.
Strickland responded three hours later by posting screenshots of their conversation. “Bro, what are you gonna do? You ain’t gonna do a damn thing lmao,” Strickland wrote back to Woodley.
The UFC champion dismissed Woodley’s warning completely. “Din can suck my c—. Weak a– b—-,” Strickland replied.
Thomas later appeared on the Deep Waters podcast with Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal. He apologized for the timing of his retirement announcement during that episode.
Robertson addressed Thomas’s apology in her first comments after UFC 330. She appeared to question whether Thomas was sincere in his apology to her.
