Tatiana Suarez has made a remarkable comeback after being sidelined by injuries for several years. Once viewed as a future title contender during her rise to prominence in the UFC from 2016 to 2019, the 32-year-old Millennia MMA representative has earned submission wins over Montana De La Rosa and Jessica Andrade in 2023. The victory over Andrade, a former 115-pound champion, was particularly impressive, as Suarez outclassed her opponent in the UFC on ESPN 50 co-main event before winning via second-round guillotine choke at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday night.
Standout Performance Against Andrade
Suarez was thrilled with her performance against Andrade, especially since she decided to strike with her more than she usually does in her fights. “I’m just really excited about this one, because I think a lot of people fear her on the feet. That’s where she has her most success, and of course, me, I decided to strike with her a lot more than I do in all my other fights,” Suarez said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. Suarez managed to hold her own with Andrade during exchanges, and outstruck her while also going 3-for-3 on takedowns before securing the fight-ending submission.
Title Shot Considerations
With a seven-fight winning streak in UFC competition under her belt, Suarez believes she has earned the right to fight for a title. She is confident in her ability to match up well against the Weili Zhang-Amanda Lemos winner at strawweight or the Alexa Grasso-Valentina Shevchenko rematch at 125 pounds, which is set for September 16. “I think I match up well against them,” Suarez said. “I think I match up well against everybody. I think I’m going to be a world champion. I think I’m the best in the world, and I’m going for that strap. So whatever they want to give me, I’ll make it happen. But I do believe that I deserve to fight for the title.”
Suarez’s grappling skills have always been her strength, and she expects to bring that to any future title fight. She credits her lifetime of wrestling for her ability to pull off submissions that many other fighters can’t. “I think where I shine, obviously, is I’m a very good grappler, and I think she turns her back and I have a lot of submissions — I have a tight squeeze,” Suarez said.
With her impressive comeback and recent victories, Tatiana Suarez has made a strong case for a title shot. As she continues to showcase her skills and prove her dominance in the UFC, fans and critics alike will be eagerly watching her journey towards becoming a world champion.