Fighter Profile: Gillian ‘The Savage’ Robertson

UFC 260: Gillian Robertson's plan for Miranda Maverick fight - Sports Illustrated — *Sergei Belski/USA Today Sports*

One of the best Jiu Jitsu practitioners in the UFC is Gillian Robertson. A star pupil of Din Thomas Robertson has been training Jiu Jitsu with Thomas since she was sixteen years old and it shows as she now holds the record for the most submission wins by a woman in UFC history with five. This is an amazing feat considering how many submission experts are on the UFC women’s roster past and present.

Robertson was born on May 17, 1995 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. She had no experience with martial arts growing up, but started taking Cardio Kickboxing at age 15. She’d then switch to MMA training and would learn her submission game from Thomas who was a trainer at American Top Team where Robertson was taking the classes. She is a Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu under Thomas and regularly competes in both Jiu Jitsu and combat Jiu Jitsu when not in an MMA cage.

Robertson made her professional MMA debut in March of 2016 when she faced Hannah Goldy. Unfortunately for Robertson it would be a loss, but she was not discouraged as she faced Monica Medina in August of that year and would win by unanimous decision. She’d win her next fight against Miki Rogers, securing the victory via Armbar. She’d then face Cynthia Calvillo and would lose by unanimous decision. She’d then face Hannah Cifers and would win via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in the second round. She’d then get the call to compete in the Ultimate Fighter. She’d fight once on the show against Barb Honchak and would lose via TKO (Punches and Elbows.)

Robertson would make her official UFC debut against Emily Whitmire on December 1, 2017. Robertson would win her debut, via Submission (Armbar.) She’d then face Molly McCann and would secure the win via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke.) She’d then face Mayra Bueno Silva unfortunately for Robertson this would be her first loss in the UFC she’d lose by Submission (Ambar) in round one. She’d win her next two before taking another loss to Maycee Barber by TKO.

Robertson would then get back to her winning ways, securing two victories against Cortney Casey via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) and against Poliana Botelho via unanimous decision. She’d then drop two in a row before getting another win at UFC 269 earlier this month against Priscila Cachoeira via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) securing the victory even after receiving a nasty eye gouge while grappling.

Robertson is an exciting fighter to watch and hopefully she can build on the momentum off the last fight was a nice win. We hope we see her continued success for years to come.

FIGHTER PROFILE: CHARLES OLIVEIRA

Charles Oliveira captured the vacant UFC lightweight title

Charles Oliveira will be making his return to the UFC Octagon to make his first title defense at UFC 269 against Dustin Poirier. Oliveira who is a submission specialist with knockout power. Oliveira is a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ericson Cardoso and Jorge “Macaco” Patino. And he hopes to finish Dustin Poirier by Snap, Tap, or nap. But Poirier is riding his own streak so it will be interesting to see how this one shakes out. It’s sure to be a great fight.

Oliveira was born in Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil on October 17, 1989. Oliveira was born into a poor family and came from nothing and was raised in a favela which is a type of slum in Brazil which is a very rough place to grow up. As a child Oliveira started playing soccer, but unfortunately at age seven he was diagnosed with Rheumatic fever and a Heart murmur. This condition affected Oliveira who was told by doctors he might not be able to walk again. Despite this setback Oliveira continued walking and took up Martial Arts. He started out with a neighbor, but soon it would consume him; he won his first major Jiu Jitsu title as a white belt in 2003.

In 2007 Oliveira took his first MMA fight against Rui Machado for the Circuito Nacional de Vale-Tudo Amador promotion. Oliveira would win by Submission (Armbar.) Oliveira would then go pro, he’d make his pro debut against Jackson Pontes for the Predador FC Promotion. He’d fight twice more for that promotion that night with victories over Viscardi Andrade and Diego Braga both by TKO. Oliveira would fight for a few more different promotions and compiled an impressive record of 12-0. Oliveira caught the attention of the UFC.

Oliveira made his UFC debut on August 1, 2010 with a victory over Darren Elkins by Submission (armbar.) his next fight would be a win against Efrain Escudero by Submission (rear-naked choke.) After this fight Oliveira would have a rough patch in his career with his first loss to Jim Miller, then a no contest to Nik Lentz, and then a Loss to Cowboy Cerrone. He’d win his next two, but then drop a pair of fights to Frankie Edgar. He’d win six of his next 10 fights. Oliveira would then return to Lightweight where he has been unstoppable. Only losing one fight to Paul Felder. Oliveira has been on a nine fight win streak including a win in his last fight for the vacant Lightweight title against Michael Chandler at UFC 262 which he won by TKO (punches.)

Oliveira makes his return to the UFC octagon on Saturday at UFC 269 to defend his title. Oliveira does everything right so it will be interesting to see if he pulls off the victory against Poirier.