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.

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). 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 102 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 120. 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 faced Loopy Godinez on April 11, 2026, at UFC 327. She won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.

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 Suarez is engaged to Rizin FF 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 Second most submissions in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (4) GiveMeSport 2023 UFC Comeback Fighter of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Win

Loopy Godinez Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 327

Miami, Florida, United States Win

Amanda Lemos Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Lopes vs. Silva

San Antonio, Texas, United States Loss

Zhang Weili Decision (unanimous) UFC 312

Sydney, Australia Win

Jéssica Andrade Submission (guillotine choke) UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font

Nashville, Tennessee, United States Win

Montana De La Rosa Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Muniz vs. Allen

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Nina Ansaroff Decision (unanimous) UFC 238

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 Win

Arline Coban TKO (punches) Gladiator Challenge: California State Championship Series

|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 Win

Kate Jackson Submission (guillotine choke)

(airdate)

Win

JJ Aldrich Submission (rear-naked choke) (airdate)

Win

Chel-c Bailey Decision (unanimous) (airdate)

Win

Jessica Pryor Decision (unanimous) Spar Star MMA: Friday Night Fights

Inglewood, California, United States Win

Elizabeth Rodriguez TKO (punches) Mansion Fights XIV

Los Angeles, California, United States Wrestling record

Win

Fall

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

Loss Alena Filipava 2–5, 0–3

Loss Sona Ahmadli 0–1, 1–2 Win Geeta Phogat Fall Win Gudrun Høie 3–0, 6–0

Win Ana Maria Pavăl 5–4

Loss Tetyana Lazareva 2–5 Win Tatyana Grigorieva 5–2 Win Rivera Velazquez 8–1 Win Sofia Poumpouridou 6–1