UFC strawweight contender Tatiana Suarez has been out of action for two years due to injury, but she’s ready to make her return and move up a weight class.
Ariel Helwani reported on Tuesday that The Ultimate Fighter 23 tournament winner is expected to finally get back into the Octagon against Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 266 this fall. This would be Suarez’s first flyweight fight since her professional debut back in 2014.
Suarez (8-0) was a fast-rising star in the UFC’s 115 lbs division. After he TUF triumph in 2016 over Amanda Cooper, Suarez rattled off wins against Viviane Pereira, Alexa Grasso, former champion Carla Esparza, and Nina Nunes. Unfortunately, a lingering neck injury sidelined her in the long-term and she was only cleared for return to competition in May.
Modafferi (25-18) is a women’s MMA pioneer with a penchant for playing the role of spoiler against top prospects. ‘The Happy Warrior’ is coming off a decision loss to Viviane Araujo, but in 2020 she notched an upset win with a dominant decision over the previously unbeaten Maycee Barber. The 38-year-old memorably fought for the inaugural women’s flyweight title on short notice in 2017, losing a decision to Nicco Montano.
UFC 266 is scheduled for September 25th. Featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski and Brian Ortega are slated to headline the event.
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