Robertson admits she smokes marijuana through fight camps ahead of UFC 330 title shot

Gillian Robertson has opened up about her marijuana use during fight preparation, confirming she smokes throughout training camp and, depending on the athletic commission’s rules, right up until weigh-in day ahead of her UFC 330 strawweight title challenge against Mackenzie Dern on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

Robertson, a long-time cannabis advocate, drew a clear line at fight day itself, telling Ariel Helwani she prefers not to smoke on the night of competition. “420 is the only holiday that I celebrate… Honestly, during fight week, I tune it down a little bit,” she said. “I still smoke all through fight camp, and then, during fight week, it depends, obviously, on the commission and whether we’re allowed to or not. And if we are, I usually will smoke up to weigh-in day, and then fight day, I don’t like to smoke.”

The Canadian fighter was careful to frame her use in terms of recovery rather than performance. “I do think it helps with recovery, relaxing, and things like that, but I don’t see the [performance-enhancing] benefits,” she added.

The regulatory landscape around cannabis in combat sports remains uneven. While the UFC removed marijuana from its list of banned substances, individual athletic commissions retain the authority to prohibit athletes from competing under its active influence — meaning Robertson’s approach can vary from event to event depending on the jurisdiction.

The issue has a notable history in MMA. Nick Diaz’s victory over Takanori Gomi was overturned after he tested positive for cannabis, a case that helped ignite a broader debate about the substance’s place in the sport.

Robertson (17-8) arrives at her first UFC title shot on the back of a five-fight winning streak. Champion Dern (16-5) claimed the vacant strawweight belt last October in a rematch against Virna Jandiroba, extending her own winning run to three fights. The bout represents Robertson’s biggest opportunity to date and a stern test for a champion still building her title reign.