Tatiana Suarez eyes summer return as neck is almost fully healed
Tatiana Suarez is closing in on her return to the UFC.
After Suarez defeated Nina Ansaroff at UFC 238, many believed she was in line for a title shot, however, she was dealing with a beck injury. At the time, no one knew just how serious it would be and she still has not fought and it will be two years this summer. However, recently, UFC president, Dana White revealed Suarez is looking to return soon.
“She hit me up the other day,” White said on an ESPN+ fan Q&A with Laura Sanko. “Her neck is much better. She’s looking to come back soon. She’s scary.”
According to Suarez, the hope for her is to return in the summer. However, she knows her neck has to be 100 percent before she steps foot in the Octagon again.
“Yes, my team and I are thinking summer,” Suarez told MMA Junkie. “At first I thought spring, but I want to make sure my neck will make it through a camp before committing to a fight. I tried to spar and my neck hurt after a few rounds so I cut the session. But, slowly but surely I’m introducing live training back in.”
Tatiana Suarez is 8-0 as a pro including being 5-0 inside the Octagon. The 30-year-old won season 23 of The Ultimate Fighter after defeating Chel-c Bailey, JJ Aldrich, Kate Jackson on the show and submitted Amanda Cooper to win the show. Suarez also holds notable wins over Alexa Grasso by submission and Carla Esparza by TKO.
Suarez is currently not ranked at strawweight due to her inactivity. However, when she is able to return, there is no question she will get a top-five opponent. After the win over Ansaroff, many believed she was one win away from a title shot, so that still could be the case here. Off the rankings, fighting someone like Joanna Jedrzejczyk or Yan Xioanan in a number one contender bout.
