Tatiana Suarez

Tatiana Suarez (born December 19, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist and former wrestler who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She was the strawweight tournament winner in the 23rd season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show. As of April 16, 2024, she is #1 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings and #9 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.

In wrestling, Suarez was a multi-time medalist in women's freestyle at the World Championships and World Junior Championships, a silver medalist at the World Cup, and a gold medalist at the Pan American Championships.

Background
Suarez is of Mexican descent. She started wrestling before her fourth birthday, as her older brother wrestled and she insisted that her mother let her wrestle too. She graduated from Northview High School before attending Lindenwood University.

Suarez originally competed under her stepfather's surname, Padilla. In 2007, she placed second at the Junior World Championships, and was named ASICs National High School Wrestler of the Year. In 2008, she won gold at the Pan American Championships followed by bronze at the Junior World Championships in July, another bronze at the World Championships in October, and was named National High School Wrestler of the Year again, the first wrestler to receive it twice. In 2009, Suarez placed fifth at the World Championships. In 2010, she won silver at the World Cup and bronze at the World Championships. In 2011, she was ranked number one freestyle wrestler in the US at 55 kg.

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 mixed martial arts.

Amateur career
Suarez began training in 2013. She had issues finding an opponent for her first fight due to her impressive wrestling background. On the advice of her coaches, she began using Suarez (her biological father's surname) instead of Padilla (her stepfather's surname that she used while wrestling). She made her amateur debut in February 2014 defeating Elizabeth Rodriguez by TKO in the first round. She fought again one month later and defeated Jessica Pryor by unanimous decision.

Early professional career
Suarez made her 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 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. This win earned her the Performance of the Night bonus.

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 technical knockout in the third round.

Suarez faced Nina Ansaroff on June 8, 2019 at UFC 238. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Suarez was expected to return from an extended hiatus and face Roxanne Modafferi in a flyweight bout on September 25, 2021 at UFC 266. However, Suarez was pulled from the event due to injury, and she was replaced by Taila Santos.

After a three-and-a-half-year hiatus, Suarez returned to face Montana De La Rosa in a flyweight bout on February 25, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 220. She won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in round two. This win earned her the Performance of the Night bonus.

Suarez was scheduled to face Virna Jandiroba on August 5, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 226. However on June 20 it was reported that Jandiroba suffered a knee injury and pulled out of the bout, later replaced by former UFC Women's Strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade. Suarez won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the second round. This win earned Suarez her third Performance of the Night bonus.

Suarez was scheduled to face Amanda Lemos on February 17, 2024, at UFC 298. However, Suarez was withdrawn from the event because of an injury and was replaced by Mackenzie Dern.

Popular media
In 2024, an HBO documentary, "The Unbreakable Tatiana Suarez" was released. It was based on Tatiana Suarez's life struggle, fighting with cancer then becoming a MMA champion.

Freestyle wrestling

 * United World Wrestling (FILA)
 * World Wrestling Championships
 * 2008 bronze medalist, 55 kg
 * 2010 bronze medalist, 55 kg
 * World Junior Wrestling Championships
 * 2007 silver medalist, 59 kg
 * 2008 bronze medalist, 59 kg
 * World Cup - 2010 silver medalist, 55 kg
 * Pan American Wrestling Championships - 2008 gold medalist, 59 kg

Mixed martial arts

 * Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Strawweight winner
 * Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Amanda Cooper, Montana De La Rosa, and Jéssica Andrade
 * Tied (Polyana Viana, Mackenzie Dern & Zhang Weili) for fourth most finishes in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (4)
 * Tied (Rose Namajunas, Cynthia Calvillo & Polyana Viana) for second most submissions in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (3)
 * Tied (Carla Esparza, Yan Xiaonan & Loopy Godinez) for the second longest win streak in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (6)
 * Fourth most top position time in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (35:15)
 * Highest top position percentage in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (61.3%)
 * Least bottom position time in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (0:42)
 * Lowest bottom position percentage in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (1.22%)
 * Highest significant strike accuracy percentage in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (63.6%)
 * Second highest striking differential in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (3.2)
 * Fewest strikes absorbed-per-minute in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (1.48)
 * Tied (Zhang Weili) for third most takedowns landed in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (25)
 * Highest takedown accuracy percentage in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (65.8%)
 * Gladiator Challenge
 * Gladiator Challenge Flyweight Champion (one time)

Wrestling record
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:80%; text-align:left;" ! Res. ! Opponent ! Score ! Date ! Event ! Location ! style=background:white colspan=8 | 2010 World Championships bronze medalist at 55kg ! style=background:white colspan=8 | 2009 World Championships at 55kg ! style=background:white colspan=8 | 2008 World Championships bronze medalist at 55kg
 * Win
 * align=left | 🇷🇺 Maria Gurova
 * Fall
 * rowspan=5|September 9, 2010
 * rowspan=5|2010 World Championship
 * rowspan=5| 🇷🇺 Moscow
 * Win
 * 🇰🇷 Um Ji-eun
 * 1–0, 5-4
 * Loss
 * 🇯🇵 Saori Yoshida
 * 0–3, 0–7
 * Win
 * 🇷🇴 Ana Maria Pavăl
 * 1–3, 3–3, 6–0
 * Win
 * 🇧🇾 Zalina Sidakova
 * 2–0, 7–4
 * 1–3, 3–3, 6–0
 * Win
 * 🇧🇾 Zalina Sidakova
 * 2–0, 7–4
 * 2–0, 7–4
 * Loss
 * 🇧🇾 Alena Filipava
 * 2–5, 0–3
 * rowspan=4| September 24, 2009
 * rowspan=4|2009 World Championships
 * rowspan=4| Herning
 * Loss
 * 🇦🇿 Sona Ahmadli
 * 0–1, 1–2
 * Win
 * 🇮🇳 Geeta Phogat
 * Fall
 * Win
 * 🇳🇴 Gudrun Høie
 * 3–0, 6–0
 * Win
 * 🇳🇴 Gudrun Høie
 * 3–0, 6–0
 * 3–0, 6–0
 * Win
 * 🇷🇴 Ana Maria Pavăl
 * 5–4
 * rowspan=6|October 11, 2008
 * rowspan=6|2008 World Championship
 * rowspan=6| 🇯🇵 Tokyo
 * Loss
 * 🇺🇦 Tetyana Lazareva
 * 2–5
 * Win
 * 🇧🇾 Tatyana Grigorieva
 * 5–2
 * Win
 * Rivera Velazquez
 * 8–1
 * Win
 * Sofia Poumpouridou
 * 6–1
 * 8–1
 * Win
 * Sofia Poumpouridou
 * 6–1
 * 6–1