Quick Facts
SagittariusBiography
Tatiana Suarez (born December 19, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)with a background in wrestling. She was the strawweight tournament winner in the 23rd season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show. As of February 17, 2020, she is #3 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings and #7 in UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.
Background
Suarez has Mexican ancestry. She started wrestling before her fourth birthday, as all of her older brothers wrestled and she insisted that her mother let her wrestle too. She graduated from Northview High School (California). She is a two-time bronze medalist in the world championships of freestyle wrestling. In 2011, she was ranked the number one freestyle wrestler in the US at 55 kg (121 lb). While training for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Suarez suffered a neck injury, which derailed her Olympic aspirations. An MRI and CAT scan not only revealed a bothersome disc in her neck, but a cancerous growth on her thyroid. Suarez underwent radiation therapy and had her thyroid and several lymph nodes removed. After successful treatment, her thyroid cancer was gone and she eventually began to train again. Suarez started practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which led her to discovering mixed martial arts.
MMA career
Early career
Suarez began training MMA in 2013 and made her Amateur debut in February 2014 defeating Elizabeth Rodriguez by TKO in the first round. She fought again only one month later and defeated Jessica Pryor by unanimous decision before deciding to turn pro.
Suarez made her successful professional MMA debut in July 2014 in the Gladiator Challenge promotion defeating Tyra Parker by unanimous decision. She returned in April 2015 and submitted Carolina Alvarez by armbar in the first round. She made her final appearance for the promotion in August 2015 defeating Arline Coban by TKO in the second round. This victory earned her the Gladiator Challenge championship in the California State Championship Series.
The Ultimate Fighter aka TUF 23
Suarez was chosen as a participant on the 23rd season of the reality show The Ultimate Fighter. In her fight to get into the house she defeated Chel-c Bailey by unanimous decision. Her dominant performance caused her to be selected as the number one overall pick by coach Cláudia Gadelha. In the quarter-finals she faced Joanna Jędrzejczyk's number one pick and Invicta FC veteran JJ Aldrich. She submitted Aldrich in the second round by rear naked choke, advancing her to the semi-finals. In her third fight she faced Team Claudia teammate Kate Jackson. She submitted Jackson in the first round by guillotine choke and advanced to the live finale.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Suarez faced Team Claudia teammate Amanda Cooper in the finals on July 8, 2016 at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale. She won the fight by D'Arce choke in the first round to become the strawweight tournament winner.
Suarez was expected to face Juliana Lima at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Abdurakhimov on Dec 9, 2016. However, Suarez pulled out of the fight on November 23 citing injury and was replaced by JJ Aldrich.
Suarez faced Viviane Pereira on November 11, 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis. She won the fight via unanimous decision.
Suarez faced Alexa Grasso on May 19, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 129. She won the fight via a rear-naked choke in round one.
Suarez faced Carla Esparza on September 8, 2018 at UFC 228. She won the fight via TKO in the third round.
Suarez faced Nina Ansaroff on June 8, 2019 at UFC 238. She won the fight by unanimous decision.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Strawweight winner.
- Gladiator Challenge
- Gladiator Challenge Flyweight Champion (one time)
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 8 matches | 8 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 0 |
| By submission | 3 | 0 |
| By decision | 3 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 8–0 | Nina Ansaroff | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 238 | June 8, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Carla Esparza | TKO (punches and elbows) | UFC 228 | September 8, 2018 | 3 | 4:33 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Alexa Grasso | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Usman | May 19, 2018 | 1 | 2:44 | Santiago, Chile | |
| Win | 5–0 | Viviane Pereira | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis | November 11, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Norfolk, Virginia, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Amanda Cooper | Submission (D'Arce choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Finale | July 8, 2016 | 1 | 3:43 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Strawweight debut. Won The Ultimate Fighter 23 Strawweight Tournament. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 3–0 | Arline Coban | TKO (punches) | Gladiator Challenge: California State Championship Series | August 22, 2015 | 2 | 0:48 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Carolina Alvarez | Submission (armbar) | Gladiator Challenge: California State Championship Series | April 11, 2015 | 1 | 2:01 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Tyra Parker | Decision (unanimous) | Gladiator Challenge: Night of the Champions | July 19, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Rancho Mirage, California, United States | Flyweight debut. Won the vacant Gladiator Challenge Flyweight Championship. |
| Exhibition record breakdown | ||
| 3 matches | 3 wins | 0 losses |
| By submission | 2 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 3–0 | Kate Jackson | Submission (guillotine choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia | July 6, 2016 (airdate) | 1 | 2:53 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | TUF 23 Semifinal round |
| Win | 2–0 | JJ Aldrich | Submission (rear-naked choke) | May 3, 2016 (airdate) | 2 | 3:14 | TUF 23 Quarterfinal round | ||
| Win | 1–0 | Chel-c Bailey | Decision (unanimous) | April 20, 2016 (airdate) | 2 | 5:00 | TUF 23 Elimination round |
| Amateur record breakdown | ||
| 2 matches | 2 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 2–0 | Jessica Pryor | Decision (unanimous) | Spartan Spar Promotions | March 7, 2014 | 3 | 2:00 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Elizabeth Rodriguez | TKO (punches) | Armoured Wings 14 | February 8, 2014 | 1 | 1:19 | Los Angeles, California, United States |
Wrestling record
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Score | Date | Event | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 World Championships bronze medalist at 55kg | |||||||
| Win | 10-4 | Maria Gurova | Fall | September 9, 2010 | 2010 World Championship | Moscow | |
| Win | 9-4 | Um Ji-eun | 1–0, 5-4 | ||||
| Loss | 8-4 | Saori Yoshida | 0–3, 0-7 | ||||
| Win | 8-3 | Ana Maria Pavăl | 1–3, 3–3, 6-0 | ||||
| Win | 7-3 | Zalina Sidakova | 2–0, 7-4 | ||||
| 2009 World Championships at 55kg | |||||||
| Loss | 6-3 | Alena Filipava | 2–5, 0-3 | September 24, 2009 | 2009 World Championships | Herning | |
| Loss | 6-2 | Sona Ahmadli | 0–1, 1-2 | ||||
| Win | 6-1 | Geeta Phogat | Fall | ||||
| Win | 5-1 | Gudrun Høie | 3–0, 6-0 | ||||
| 2008 World Championships bronze medalist at 55kg | |||||||
| Win | 4-1 | Ana Maria Pavăl | 5-4 | October 11, 2008 | 2008 World Championship | Tokyo | |
| Loss | 3-1 | Tetyana Lazareva | 2-5 | ||||
| Win | 3-0 | Tatyana Grigorieva | 5-2 | ||||
| Win | 2-0 | Rivera Velazquez | 8-1 | ||||
| Win | 1-0 | Sofia Poumpouridou | 6-1 | ||||