Strawweight contender Tatiana Suarez has withdrawn from her UFC 298 matchup against Amanda Lemos due to injury, with Mackenzie Dern set to replace her.
Tatiana Suarez, a strawweight contender, has hit a roadblock. She’s pulled out from the UFC 298 face-off with Amanda Lemos due to an injury.
The news broke on Tuesday. OC Register reported that Mackenzie Dern is all set to step in for Suarez against Lemos. The showdown is scheduled for February 17 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
A UFC official confirmed the change to MMA Fighting. The Suarez vs. Lemos fight was initially expected to be the main event of the ESPN/ESPN+ prelims for UFC 298. Now, it seems the Lemos vs. Dern fight will take that spot.
Suarez, huh? She’s the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 23. After a four-year hiatus due to injuries, she made a dramatic return to the MMA scene this past February. She submitted Montana De La Rosa in her comeback fight.
She didn’t stop there. She went on to submit ex-champ Jessica Andrade in her latest fight at UFC Nashville. These victories helped her secure the No. 2 strawweight spot in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings. A win over Lemos, who recently challenged for the title, would have promised a title shot.
Now, let’s talk about Dern. She’s the No. 9 fighter. After a TKO loss to Andrade in her last outing at UFC 295, she could use a boost. The grappling expert turned MMA fighter has been on a rollercoaster ride, alternating between wins and losses in her past six fights.
UFC 298, by the way, is headlined by a featherweight title fight. The reigning champ Alexander Volkanovski will be squaring off against Ilia Topuria.