Tatiana Suarez

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.

Mixed martial arts career

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 December 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 on ESPN 50. 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.

Suarez was scheduled to face Virna Jandiroba on December 7, 2024 at UFC 310. However, Suarez reportedly withdrew from the fight due to an unspecified health issue and the bout was subsequently removed from the card.

Suarez competed for the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship against current two-time champion Zhang Weili on February 9, 2025 at UFC 312. She lost the fight by unanimous decision leading to her first loss in MMA.

Suarez's bout with Amanda Lemos was re-scheduled and took place on September 13, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 259. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Suarez is scheduled to face Loopy Godinez on April 11, 2026, at UFC 327.

Popular media

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

Personal life

Saurez is engaged to RIZIN fighter Patchy Mix. They have been in a relationship since 2023.

Championships and accomplishments

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)
  • Highest control time percentage in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (57.7%)
  • Sixth most top position time in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (40:35)
  • Third highest top position percentage in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (41.6%)
  • Highest significant strike accuracy percentage in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (60.4%)
  • Second fewest strikes absorbed-per-minute in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (1.65)
  • Fourth most takedowns landed in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (29)
• Gladiator Challenge
  • Gladiator Challenge Flyweight Champion (one time)
• MMA Fighting
  • 2023 First Team MMA All-Star
• GiveMeSport
  • 2023 UFC Comeback Fighter of the Year

Mixed martial arts record

|ko-wins=2 |sub-wins=5 |dec-wins=4 |ko-losses= |sub-losses=

| |San Antonio, Texas, United States | |- |Loss |Zhang Weili |Decision (unanimous) |UFC 312 | |Sydney, Australia

| |Nashville, Tennessee, United States

| |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

| |Chicago, Illinois, United States | |- |Win |Carla Esparza |TKO (punches) |UFC 228 | |Dallas, Texas, United States | |- |Win |Alexa Grasso |Submission (rear-naked choke) |UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Usman | |Santiago, Chile | |- |Win |Viviane Pereira |Decision (unanimous) |UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis | |Norfolk, Virginia, United States | |- |Win |Amanda Cooper |Submission (brabo choke) |The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Finale | |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

| ||San Jacinto, California, United States | |- |Win |Carolina Alvarez |Submission (armbar) |Gladiator Challenge: California State Championship Series | |San Jacinto, California, United States | |- |Win |Tyra Parker |Decision (unanimous) |Gladiator Challenge: Night of the Champions | |Rancho Mirage, California, United States |Flyweight debut. Won the vacant Gladiator Challenge Flyweight Championship.

| ko-wins= | ko-losses= | sub-wins= 2 | sub-losses= | dec-wins= 1 | dec-losses= | dq-wins= | dq-losses= | other-wins=

| ko-wins=1 | ko-losses= | sub-wins= | sub-losses= | dec-wins=1 | dec-losses= | dq-wins= | dq-losses= | other-wins=

| |Inglewood, California, United States | |- |Win |Elizabeth Rodriguez |TKO (punches) |Mansion Fights XIV | |Los Angeles, California, United States |

Wrestling record

References

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