Tag: Tatiana Suarez

Tatiana Suarez Names Four Potential Opponents For Return Fight

Tatiana Suarez has provided an update on her long-awaited return to the Octagon and named four potential opponents she could face when she makes her comeback. Since 2019, Suarez has been missing from contention. After emerging victorious in The Ultimate Fighter 23, the Californian established herself as legitimate threat to the strawweight throne with four wins,…

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Tatiana Suarez has provided an update on her long-awaited return to the Octagon and named four potential opponents she could face when she makes her comeback.

Since 2019, Suarez has been missing from contention. After emerging victorious in The Ultimate Fighter 23, the Californian established herself as legitimate threat to the strawweight throne with four wins, including against Nina Nunes, Alexa Grasso, and now-reigning strawweight queen Carla Esparza. 

After a torrid run of injuries, which saw her suffer a broken hand and a concussion, as well as neck issues, chronic back pain, and knee damage, Suarez has been stuck on the sidelines for three years.

But after a long road to recovery, the highly touted grappler is looking to make the walk to the cage again this year, as her road to a desired champ-champ status gets back underway.

A few months back, Suarez pinpointed this summer, specifically July, as her targeted return. However, after a small setback, the 31-year-old has been forced to adjust her desired timeframe.

“I was doing really well, I was grappling almost every single day. Then, my knee started to get more inflamed when I started doing standup and stuff, so I think I’ll have to push it back a little bit,” said Suarez during an appearance on The Schmozone podcast. “I was thinking maybe July, but now I’m like, maybe September, hopefully, October maybe.”

Suarez Sets Sights On Two July 2 Bouts

When she is finally ready to lace the gloves again, Suarez has her sights set on four possible names, which will be reduced to two after the conclusion an upcoming pay-per-view card.

“The Miesha (Tate) fight, the Lauren Murphy fight, maybe (I fight) the winner of that one? Unless they give her (Tate) a shot after that… I wouldn’t mind either of those two,” said Suarez. “Either those two or I know Jessica Eye was supposed to fight. She was supposed to fight Casey O’Neill — Oh, she’s fighting Maycee Barber, yeah, I could fight either of those two as well.”

Tate, a former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, is set to test the waters of flyweight at UFC 276, slated for July 2 in International Fight Week. Attempting to jump right into the mix in the division, “Cupcake” will face Murphy, the most recent challenger to Valentina Shevchenko’s title.

Eye, meanwhile, was brutally knocked out by Shevchenko in her most recent title challenge in 2019. Having lost three in a row and slipped to #11 in the rankings, “Evil” will be targeting a rebound against rising contender Barber. Their matchup is also slated for UFC 276.

Should Suarez be ready to step back inside the Octagon in September or October, it stands to reason that, barring any injuries on July 2, the victors from the two matchups mentioned will be prepared to go at around the same time.

Who would you like to see Tatiana Suarez face when she makes her return?

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Suarez Questions Why Namajunas Was So Scared Of Esparza’s Wrestling

Like most, Tatiana Suarez was left confused by former two-time UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas’ approach against Carla Esparza last month. UFC 274 was one of the most-anticipated cards of this year so far, and in many ways it delivered. But while the headliner saw Charles Oliveira record a memorable submission victory over Justin…

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Like most, Tatiana Suarez was left confused by former two-time UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas’ approach against Carla Esparza last month.

UFC 274 was one of the most-anticipated cards of this year so far, and in many ways it delivered. But while the headliner saw Charles Oliveira record a memorable submission victory over Justin Gaethje 3:22 into the contest, 25 minutes of co-main event action offered much less.

After a memorable 2021, Namajunas was looking to extend her second reign beyond the length of her first in a rematch against Esparza. While “Cookie Monster” submitted her the first go-around, most were expecting “Thug Rose” to exact revenge in Arizona.

But after five rounds of what could barely even be described as a sparring session, fans were left disappointed, the crowd was left booing, and Namajunas’ was left without the title in her possession.

Not much has changed about the perception of Namajunas’ performance since, even in spite of Pat Barry’s best efforts to explain the strategy in a post-fight interview.

While most remain bewildered at the now-former champ’s inactivity on the feet, which is where most acknowledged she’d have a firm edge over the challenger, Tatiana Suarez also doesn’t understand Namajunas’ grappling fear.

During a recent appearance on The Schmozone podcast, the undefeated 31-year-old admitted that she’s still unsure on what caused the dull affair at UFC 274. But ultimately, Suarez believes that Namajunas entered the contest far more afraid of Esparza’s grappling than was necessary.

“I don’t know if (Esparza) really beat her. I don’t even know what that was. I’m still trying to process it. It was like the battle of the feints out there,” said Suarez. “How do you even score that fight? … I was very surprised at how little she (Namajunas) did. She was so scared of the wrestling, and I honestly don’t think that Carla is that much better in that department than Rose. I feel like Rose could’ve grappled with her a lot more, and it would’ve been fine.

“She fought with Weili Zhang and she grappled with her a lot, and she did well. So I was very surprised that she didn’t grapple more. Why not go on the ground? Why not?” Suarez questioned. “I’ve fought Carla, so I know her strength, right? And so, yeah, I don’t think (she’s stronger than Zhang).”

Whether through too much focus on her 2014 submission loss to Esparza or the prevailing narrative being that the challenger had to force the fight to the ground to win, it was clear that Namajunas’ game plan involved avoiding grappling exchanges at all costs.

Unfortunately, a consequence of that strategy was seemingly avoiding exchanges, period.

Do you agree with Tatiana Suarez? Should Rose Namajunas have been more open to grappling with Carla Esparza at UFC 274?

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Tatiana Suarez Picks Islam Makhachev To Beat Charles Oliveira: ‘He’s Gonna Be A Champion’

Tatiana SuarezUndefeated UFC strawweight, Tatiana Suarez has picked her fellow wrestling standout, Islam Makhachev to successfully clinch the vacant lightweight title should he fight former kingpin, Charles Oliveira next – as well as comfortably knocking back Beneil Dariush. Tatiana Suarez, the victor of The Ultimate Fighter 23 – has been out of action since successfully defeating […]

Tatiana Suarez

Undefeated UFC strawweight, Tatiana Suarez has picked her fellow wrestling standout, Islam Makhachev to successfully clinch the vacant lightweight title should he fight former kingpin, Charles Oliveira next – as well as comfortably knocking back Beneil Dariush.

Tatiana Suarez, the victor of The Ultimate Fighter 23 – has been out of action since successfully defeating Nina Nunes with a unanimous decision victory at UFC 238 in June 2019.

Improving to 8-0 as a professional, the dominant wrestler and grappler has seen numerous injury setbacks stunt her continued rise through the strawweight ranks – where she already holds a third round ground strikes success against inaugural and current undisputed champion, Carla Esparza. 

Expected to test flyweight waters in September of last year in a high-profile slot against the now-retired Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 266, another injury prevented Suarez’s return to active competition, with incoming UFC 275 co-headliner and title challenger, Taila Santos replacing her. 

Tatiana Suarez provides her prediction for a potential Islam Makhachev, Charles Oliveira clash

Sharing her thoughts on the lightweight landscape, Suarez, a native of Covina – picked Makhachev to successfully become a future champion in the division, picking the Makhachkala native to defeat both former champion, Oliveira, and once-scheduled opponent, Dariush – the latter with relative ease, in fact.

“He’s (Islam Makhachev) gonna be champ, that’s who I think is gonna be champ,” Tatiana Suarez said on The Schmozone. “I don’t think anybody is gonna beat him. I think his grappling – there’s not many people that I watch, where I watch their grappling and think, this is exactly what I do. And he’s actually one of those grapplers. … While I’m watching the grappling, I’m impressed with every step they’re doing. I know that once they get those positions, they’re gonna be fine. He’s really good at that.” 

“Yes, absolutely – I don’t even think Beneil (Dariush) has a chance against him (Islam Makhachev),” Tatiana Suarez said. “I mean, well I’ve seen them both go, I’ve seen them both fight, I’ve seen them both grappler. I just don’t see it was all (Dariush defeating Makhachev).”

Oliveira managed to successfully submit former interim lightweight titleholder, Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 last month, however, was stripped of the title due to a prior weight miss.

Linked with a vacant title showdown against Oliveira, Makhachev has won his last 10 consecutively, adding Bobby Green to that list in February with a one-sided ground strikes win in a short notice first round main event clash.

Tatiana Suarez: I Have The Skills To Be A Champ-Champ

UFC strawweight Tatiana Suarez believes she has the tools to become only the second women’s double champion in UFC history. Suarez is currently recovering from a knee injury on which she recently had surgery performed. For her return, she is anticipating competing at flyweight before returning to strawweight. The 31-year-old has not fought since 2019…

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UFC strawweight Tatiana Suarez believes she has the tools to become only the second women’s double champion in UFC history.

Suarez is currently recovering from a knee injury on which she recently had surgery performed. For her return, she is anticipating competing at flyweight before returning to strawweight.

The 31-year-old has not fought since 2019 but remains undefeated as a fighter. She holds remarkable wins over Carla Esparza and Alexa Grasso, both of whom have gained serious momentum in their respective divisions since their losses to her.

Roxanne Modafferi was scheduled to face the undefeated prospect following her two-year absence but the knee injury forced Suarez to withdraw from UFC 266.

She’s now aiming for a return to the Octagon sometime this summer, preferably international fight week, as she aims to take on both the flyweight and strawweight divisions.

A goal of hers is to become the champion of both weight classes she told Helen Yee in an exclusive interview.

“Yeah, that is a goal of mine,” said Suarez. “I think that I have the skills to do it. People always say, ‘You have some of the best wrestling, or you’re one of the best wrestlers out there. You could be one of the best wrestlers.’ 100%, without a doubt in my mind, I am the best wrestler in women’s MMA… From featherweight to strawweight, I believe I can beat anybody in wrestling, in terms of that skill set. So, I think that is something that can get me two belts. Just because I’m far ahead in that discipline.”

In her way of accomplishing the ‘double champ’ status are both UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas and UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko. It’s unknown which division Suarez will aim to conquer first yet with her return set to be at flyweight, her eyes will firmly be on the 125lbs crown for now.

Do you believe Tatiana Suarez has what it takes to become a UFC double champion?

Continue Reading Tatiana Suarez: I Have The Skills To Be A Champ-Champ at MMA News.

[UPDATED] Tatiana Suarez Off UFC 266, Will Require Knee Surgery

[UPDATE] Following the original story, Tatiana Suarez released an Instagram post that included a written and video statement where she revealed that she will be undergoing knee surgery. You can view the post below. [ORIGINAL STORY] Tatiana Suarez was l…

[UPDATE] Following the original story, Tatiana Suarez released an Instagram post that included a written and video statement where she revealed that she will be undergoing knee surgery. You can view the post below. [ORIGINAL STORY] Tatiana Suarez was looking to make her highly-anticipated return to the Octagon at UFC 266 but as plans will […]

Continue Reading [UPDATED] Tatiana Suarez Off UFC 266, Will Require Knee Surgery at MMA News.