Tatiana Suarez

She was the strawweight tournament winner in the 23rd season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show.

As of January 23, 2024, she is #2 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings and #9 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.

In wrestling, Suarez was a multi-time medalist in women's freestyle at the World Championships and World Junior Championships, a silver medalist at the World Cup, and a gold medalist at the Pan American Championships.

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.

Suarez was chosen as a participant on the 23rd season of the reality show The Ultimate Fighter.

In her fight to get into the house she defeated Chel-c Bailey by unanimous decision.

Her dominant performance caused her to be selected as the number one overall pick by coach Cláudia Gadelha.

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.

Tatiana Suarez (born December 19, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist and former wrestler who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

In 2007, she placed second at the Junior World Championships, and was named ASICs National High School Wrestler of the Year.

In 2008, she won gold at the Pan American Championships followed by bronze at the Junior World Championships in July, another bronze at the World Championships in October, and was named National High School Wrestler of the Year again, the first wrestler to receive it twice.

In 2009, Suarez placed fifth at the World Championships.

In 2010, she won silver at the World Cup and bronze at the World Championships.

In 2011, she was ranked number one freestyle wrestler in the US at 55 kg.

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.

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).

She made her amateur debut in February 2014 defeating Elizabeth Rodriguez by TKO in the first round.

She fought again one month later and defeated Jessica Pryor by unanimous decision.

Suarez made her professional MMA debut in July 2014 in the Gladiator Challenge promotion defeating Tyra Parker by unanimous decision.

She returned in April 2015 and submitted Carolina Alvarez by armbar in the first round.

She made her final appearance for the promotion in August 2015 defeating Arline Coban by TKO in the second round.

This victory earned her the Gladiator Challenge championship in the California State Championship Series.

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: Lewis vs. Abdurakhimov on Dec 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: Poirier vs. Pettis.