Tatiana Suarez will challenge Zhang Weili for the UFC strawweight championship at UFC 312 in Sydney, with Mackenzie Dern hoping for a Suarez victory due to their stylistic matchup, despite Suarez’s inactivity from injuries and Zhang’s dominant title defenses.
Tatiana Suarez is set to challenge Zhang Weili for the UFC strawweight championship in Sydney at UFC 312 on Feb. 8. Mackenzie Dern? She’s rooting for an upset.
Suarez, undefeated with seven of her ten wins in the UFC, has been plagued by injuries, limiting her activity. Zhang, though, is the odds-on favorite, having defended her reclaimed title twice since 2022.
For Dern, who headlines this weekend’s UFC Vegas 101 against Amanda Ribas, a Suarez win would be intriguing. Why? Their styles match up in a way that piques her interest.
“My focus is the belt,” Dern told MMA Fighting. But she chuckled, admitting she’d prefer Suarez to win. “I’d much rather fight a grappler,” she said. Facing Zhang Weili? Much harder.
Suarez hasn’t fought in over a year since defeating Jessica Andrade in August 2023. Dern seemed surprised by her quick return after pulling out of a fight with Virna Jandiroba due to health issues.
“She pulled out last month and is already fighting for the belt. It’s crazy,” Dern remarked. She’s eyeing a title shot herself with a win over Ribas in Las Vegas.
“Tatiana is always getting injured,” Dern noted. “But she’s undefeated.” She mused about Suarez’s rapid recovery from injury to title contention. A winning streak might just get them there too.
Dern recently bounced back with a decision win over Lupita Godinez after a bonus-winning defeat to Amanda Lemos. Now, she’s ready for another thrilling fight under the UFC APEX lights.
“I think this fight will go five rounds,” Dern predicted. She usually aims for submissions but knows Amanda Ribas is tough. With heart and reach, Ribas won’t be easy to beat.
Closing the distance won’t be simple; Ribas has solid defense. That’s why Dern anticipates it being the fight of the night. Exciting times ahead!