Din Thomas confirms Brady corner just days after retiring from UFC cornering

Din Thomas reversed his retirement from UFC cornering within days of announcing it on live television, confirming he will be in Sean Brady’s corner when the welterweight contender faces Gabriel Bonfim in the main event of a UFC Fight Night on November 7 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas.

Thomas had declared he was stepping away from cornering immediately after Gillian Robertson’s strawweight title challenge fell short against Mackenzie Dern at UFC 330. The timing — made publicly on the post-show broadcast — drew swift backlash from fans and fighters alike. Thomas subsequently apologised for how he handled the situation, but the criticism has not abated.

The U-turn became a talking point on the “Deep Waters” podcast, where Dustin Poirier, Chris Weidman, and Jorge Masvidal were discussing Brady’s upcoming fight. Poirier opened the roast with a deadpan reminder: “Well, he doesn’t corner anyone anymore.”

Weidman pressed Thomas directly on whether he would be in Brady’s corner on November 7. When Thomas confirmed he would, Weidman was unsparing: “That’s the quickest damn retirement I’ve seen in my entire life. Are you messing with us?”

Masvidal, who had previously defended Thomas publicly, said the reversal had exhausted his goodwill. “Din, I went to war for you, telling everybody I understand why you retired,” Masvidal said. “I can’t save you anymore.”

Poirier landed the final blow, connecting Thomas’s decision back to Robertson’s frustration: “So now I know why Gillian Robertson is upset.”

The episode underlines how much damage Thomas’s post-UFC 330 announcement caused within his own professional circle. Robertson had been visibly emotional after the loss, and the public retirement declaration compounded the fallout. Whether Thomas’s return to the corner for Brady helps rehabilitate his standing in the sport remains to be seen.