This week, the new women's strawweight rankings after the UFC 300 event were released, with Zhang Weili firmly defending her title like a rock, while Yan Xiaonan, who was previously at the top of the rankings, slipped to second place. Behind this change is Suarez, known as the "female version of Kitty Hawk", who has become the first title challenger in the division, and she has refreshed the rankings with her strength.
Suarez said in an interview that her wrestling is much better than Wei Li! Wei Li is like a little girl who has just learned to wrestle! She wants to hang Wei Li! No one from these women!
Why is this woman so crazy! Let's touch her bottom!
The 33-year-old is known for her wrestling heritage, having won bronze medals at the World Wrestling Championships in 2008 and 2010 and the U.S. Women's 55kg wrestler in 2011. However, just as she was going all out to prepare for the London 2012 Olympics, an unexpected neck injury shattered her Olympic dreams and, unfortunately, the shadow of thyroid cancer was discovered. Suarez didn't give in to the double whammy, and after radiation therapy, thyroidectomy and lymph node removal surgery, she fought through her illness and made her way into the world of mixed martial arts.
In 2016, Suarez, who was still at the beginning of his career, entered the TUF trials with only three professional records, winning the UFC and signing with him. Over the next three years, she went down like a tiger and won four straight matches, including an easy rear-naked choke to subdue Alex Grasso, a perfect wrestling duel Carla "Cookie Girl" Carla Esparza, and a heavy-handed TKO victory that pushed her UFC ranking to a top-five high. But fate tested the fighter once again, and Suarez was dormant for more than three years due to injuries, seemingly forgotten by the public. However, she made a comeback in 2023 with back-to-back submissions of Montana de la Rosa and former titleholder Jessica Andrade.
To date, Suarez has racked up an impressive 10-fight winning streak, including two knockouts or TKOs, five submission-based finishes, and a perfect 100 percent win rate and a whopping 70 percent finishing rate. Although Suarez is now the most qualified contender to challenge Zhang Weili for the title, it is up to the UFC president to decide whether he can win the title right away. It is worth mentioning that in Zhang Weili's fierce battle against Yan Xiaonan, Zhang Weili showed excellent wrestling skills and grappling ability, and she is like an all-round "hexagonal warrior", no matter what style of opponent she faces, she can find the key weapon to defeat the enemy. Even if it is possible to go head-to-head with the "female version of Kitty Hawk" Suarez in the future, Zhang Weili will be difficult to break through easily because of her all-round strength.
Friends, what do you think?