Tatiana Suarez returns to the Octagon, moves up to 125lbs at UFC 266
Former Ultimate Fighter winner Tatiana Suarez is finally ready to return to the Octagon at UFC 266 after having not fought in over two years.
Suarez has not fought since a unanimous decision win over Nina Nunes at UFC 238 in June 2019. She has been out with injuries since then but is now set to return to action, and she gets a big-name opponent for her comeback. According to MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, Suarez will fight Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 266, which is set to take place on September 25 at a location that is TBD.
UFC is targeting Tatiana Suarez vs. Roxanne Modafferi at 125 pounds for UFC 266 on Sept. 25, sources say. Not done yet but that’s the one they have zeroed in on. Would be Suarez’s first fight since June 2019.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 29, 2021
Suarez (8-0) won The Ultimate Fighter in 2016 but has only fought five times in the UFC since then. The 30-year-old American looked impressive in all five of her victories, which includes a dominant TKO win over former UFC women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza. Suarez also holds notable wins over Alexa Grasso, Viviane Pereira, and Amanda Cooper during her five-year career in the Octagon. Suarez has not fought at 125lbs in the UFC, but she did fight at flyweight in her MMA debut in 2014.
Modafferi (25-18) is the No. 9 ranked women’s flyweight. The 38-year-old American is one of the most experienced women’s fighters in MMA history and she has fought many of the best WMMA fighters to ever compete in the sport. In the UFC, Modafferi has had two stints. She lost in her lone Octagon appearance in 2013 then returned in 2017. Since then, Modafferi has gone 4-5 as she has alternated wins and losses during her entire UFC run. Modafferi last saw action at UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Magny earlier this year when she lost a decision to Viviane Araujo, but prior to that she won a decision over Andrea Lee, and she also has a notable recent win over Maycee Barber on her recent, as well.
Who do you think wins this women’s flyweight bout between Tatiana Suarez and Roxanne Modafferi?
