Most MMA observers would contemplate Jessica Andrade an enormous step up from Virna Jandiroba, however for Tatiana Suarez, the change was merely an opportunity to showcase atrophied expertise.
It paid off huge time in a submission victory that Suarez mentioned qualifies her for a shot on the strawweight title 10 fights into her unbeaten MMA profession.
“I’m simply actually enthusiastic about this one, as a result of I feel lots of people concern her on the ft,” Suarez mentioned about her win within the co-headliner of UFC Nashville on Saturday. “That’s the place she has her most success, and naturally, me, I made a decision to strike along with her much more than I do in all my different fights.
“If you happen to watch my fights, I all the time get a takedown within the first minute of each combat I’ve ever had. I didn’t do this this combat. … My gameplan is no matter comes pure to me, and for some motive, it got here pure to me. I felt like I had the higher footwork. I felt like I had the higher strikes, too. Individuals instructed me, ‘Keep in mind you’re the scary one.’ She’s feared, however so are you.”
Suarez did wind up grappling Andrade later within the first body, and from there, she dominated the combat. Within the second spherical, she shocked the Brazilian ex-champ with a guillotine choke — her specialty — and introduced a faucet on the 1:31 mark of the center body.
A win over Andrade undoubtedly carries extra weight for Suarez, and she or he needs to capitalize on that with a shot on the belt. Subsequent month, champ Alex Grasso rematches long-reigning former champ Valentina Shevchenko, and Suarez needs the winner.
“I feel I match up effectively towards them,” she mentioned of the potential combat. “I feel I match up effectively towards all people. I feel I’m going to be a world champion. I feel I’m one of the best on the planet, and I’m going for that strap. So no matter they wish to give me, I’ll make it occur. However I do imagine that I need to combat for the title.”
Up till final 12 months, there have been questions on whether or not Suarez would ever return to her former glory – or to reside as much as her potential within the octagon. Extreme again and knee accidents saved her out of the cage for 4 years, and even in her comeback combat, lingering points saved her from coaching correctly.
“My purpose for this combat was to 1, be certain that my again was wholesome via all the camp, so I can get via the camp and practice the best way I often practice,” she mentioned. “My second purpose was to be comfy on my ft, as a result of I took a lot break day, and my final camp, I wasn’t in a position to spar on my ft. This time, I sparred lots, and I felt comfy. The third purpose was to get to 115, and I did that as effectively.”
Now that she’s the place she needs to be, Suarez will settle for no matter opponent the UFC suggests. However her desire is obvious.
“I don’t know who’s going to win [the Grasso vs. Shevchenko rematch], however I would like the winner,” she mentioned.
