Friendship with Emily Whitmire almost made it easier to fight her, says Gillian Robertson

LAS VEGAS – From sharing a bunkbed to sharing a UFC debut, there was a shift in dynamics for “Ultimate Fighter 26” teammates Gillian Robertson and Emily Whitmire.

But for Robertson (2-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who tapped Whitmire (2-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in the first round of their TUF 26 Finale encounter Friday, that was not an issue.

“To me, it’s just a sport,” Robertson told reporters after the women’s flyweight bout, which streamed live on UFC Fight Pass from Park Theater in Las Vegas. “So it’s like going into a football game. You don’t hate the other team.

“I don’t hate Emily. I would still go hang out with her right now after the fight. I have all the respect in the world for Emily and she’s a great opponent for me.”

In fact, while going up against someone who she shared a room with for six weeks was certainly an “interesting twist,” Robertson believes it might have even worked to ease possible octagon jitters.

“I feel like it almost made it easier that we did have a friendship between each other, because it’s like we’re sparring partners, almost,” Robertson said. “You’re friends with them, you punch them in the face. It’s just a little bit more comfortable.”

With a first-round armbar win kicking off her UFC career, Robertson has certainly come a long way from the fighter who somewhat unexpectedly got into MMA at 16. But, as “unreal” as it is to see the hard work of the past years pay off in such a major way, 22-year-old Robertson knows it’s just the beginning.

“I know that I do have potential to be a champion,” Robertson said. “I do have potential to be great. And that’s all I aspire to be.”

Feeling “100 percent” after the bout, the flyweight is eager to get back to doing what she loves – fighting, that is – as soon as possible. And, while she’s had quite a few fights at strawweight, a more grown-up Robertson believes she now belongs to the 125-pound roster.

Where she doesn’t really seem to belong anymore, though, is at Chili’s – where Robertson worked part-time as a hostess before starting her “TUF 26” run.

“I just get to focus on what I love right now,” Robertson said. “So it’s absolutely awesome. It’s almost like I don’t have a job. But this is my job. It’s great. I love it more than anything.”

To hear more from Robertson, check out the video above.

And for complete coverage of The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale, check out the UFC Events section of the site.