Tatiana Suarez is set to take on Zhang Weili for the UFC strawweight championship at UFC 312 in Sydney on Feb. 8, and Mackenzie Dern will be cheering for Suarez to cause an upset.
Suarez boasts an undefeated record with seven wins in the UFC, but has been plagued by injuries which have kept her out of action. On the other hand, Zhang has been on a dominant run since reclaiming the title in 2022, successfully defending it against tough opponents like Amanda Lemos and Yan Xiaonan.
For Dern, who is headlining UFC Vegas 101 in a rematch against Amanda Ribas this weekend, a potential matchup with Suarez is more appealing due to their similar grappling styles.
Expressing her preference for a fight with a fellow grappler, Dern stated, “My focus is on the belt, but I would love to see Tatiana win. Fighting Zhang Weili would be a tougher challenge. I hope Tatiana can secure a takedown and we can battle it out on the ground for the title.”
Despite not competing for over a year, Suarez is making a comeback for the title after a series of cancelled fights. Dern expressed surprise at Suarez’s quick return to the octagon following a health issue that led to the cancellation of a bout with Virna Jandiroba in December.
Dern added, “Tatiana has had her fair share of injuries and time off, but she remains undefeated. It’s impressive to see her bounce back so quickly for a title shot. With a solid win over Ribas, I believe I can also work my way towards a title opportunity.”
Reflecting on her recent victory over Lupita Godinez, Dern is gearing up for another thrilling showdown against Ribas at UFC APEX. She predicts a tough fight against Ribas, anticipating a five-round battle due to Ribas’s resilience and striking abilities.
“I anticipate a tough battle as Ribas is relentless and has good defense. It won’t be easy to close the distance against her, making it a potential fight of the night,” Dern shared.