Tatiana Suarez gracefully accepted her first UFC title fight loss to champion Zhang Weili, expressing gratitude for the experience and support from loved ones while emphasizing her commitment to perseverance and positivity.
Tatiana Suarez is taking her first loss in stride.
Last Saturday, Suarez faced off in her inaugural UFC title bout at UFC 312. The fight ended with a unanimous decision favoring champion Zhang Weili. In the co-main event, Suarez snagged the first round on all three judges’ scorecards. But then Zhang took control and never looked back.
On Tuesday, Suarez, now 34, broke her silence about the loss on social media.
“Champions don’t show up to get everything they want; they show up to give everything they have,” she expressed. “And that’s what I’ll do every single time. No matter what.” She added, “I love it all. Win, lose or draw, I’m right where I want to be. Doing what I love to do every single day of my life.”
Suarez continued, “I have the best people around me that love me for me. Living the dream! It’s all about the right mindset and life has taught me time and time again.” She reflected on experiencing “thrill, agony, happiness, heartbreak.” That’s life, right? Feeling blessed to share these moments with her children and future generations.
She thanked friends, family, teammates, coaches, and fiancé for their unwavering support. “Love you guys! On to the next!”
Returning to the octagon after an August 2023 submission victory over Jessica Andrade at UFC Nashville, Suarez’s impressive 10-fight win streak was halted. She’s battled through immense adversity in her life and career—countless injuries and layoffs couldn’t keep her down.
Meanwhile, Zhang defended her title for the third time in this reign as champion. Her victories include dominant decisions against Amanda Lemos at UFC 292 and Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300. Quite the resume!