Gillian Robertson

Gillian Robertson, known as “The Savage,” is a Canadian mixed martial artist from Peterborough, Ontario, who competes in the UFC Strawweight and Flyweight divisions and holds the record for the most submission victories by a woman in UFC history. Born on May 21, 1996, Robertson developed her grappling game through Brazilian jiu-jitsu training from an early age and built it into a specialized weapon that has consistently surprised UFC opponents who underestimated the speed and creativity of her submission attempts.

Robertson made her UFC debut in 2017 and immediately distinguished herself as one of the most dangerous submission hunters in the women’s divisions, earning her finishes against opponents at both strawweight and flyweight. Her creative grappling — characterized by unorthodox entries, leg lock attacks, and a willingness to pursue submissions from disadvantaged positions — has produced victories that rank among the most memorable submission finishes in women’s MMA history.

Beyond technique, Robertson’s defining quality is her comfort on the ground in any position. Where many fighters become tentative when scrambles break down, Robertson accelerates — hunting opportunities with a pace that reflects thousands of hours of dedicated grappling training. Her record for women’s UFC submission wins reflects not just finishing ability but the consistency required to execute that finishing ability against fighters prepared for her primary weapon.