Zhang Weili closes Tatiana Suarez, retains the title of UFC 312

Zhang Weili successfully retained his women’s strawweight championship by dominating previously undefeated Tatiana Suarez with a unanimous decision gain in the Co-Main event of UFC 312 in Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Saturday.

When he fights out of Beijing, Zhang (26-3) has demonstrated his dominance over the strawweight division during his second race as a master. After picking up dominant victories over Carla Esparza, Amanda Lemos and Yan Xiaonan, Zhang was booked to what is believed to be the toughest title defense of her current race against Suarez and closed as betting underdog.

It was anything but difficult.

Instead, Zhang put on a clinic and defended 14 of 15 removal attempts successfully and exceeded the Challenger 251-61. With scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 49-45, she is tied with Joanna Jedrzejczyk to most Strawweight title match wins at six.

“I respect Tatiana and she was very strong,” Zhang said. “It’s ok that I was betting the underhone.”

Suarez (11-1) brought the match to the canvas in the opening dinner when Zhang leaned on a battle and fell into Suarez’s links. Zhang got up, and Suarez tried a guillotine choke, which the master sniffed out and ended the round in the top position.

An unsuccessful removal attempt from Suarez along the fence gave Zhang top position. Suarez came back on his feet, but Zhang connected with a right hand. Another removal attempt from the challenger was averted when Zhang fell into top control again and rode the position until the end of the round.

Zhang, 35, set her striking to work in the third and blasted Suarez with a right hand that poorly winged the challenger. A Spry Zhang returned another dismantling attempt and landed a combination on Suarez’s chin. When Suarez fell into a predictable pattern of telegraphing of dismantling, Zhang took advantage of and landed an interior bentur to put the challenger on her back in the third round for the first time in her career.

Suarez, a very decorated wrestler, certainly seemed to championship gold after winning season 23 of “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2016. However, nagging injuries slowed her rise to the top of the division with only six games in the next seven years. This lack of experience became noticeable as Zhang took advantage of the tiring challenger in the championship rounds.

Without a Plan B, Suarez’s dismantles pursued with reckless exit in the final round. However, Zhang’s experience and superior conditioning prevailed when the master ran to the last bell when a violent and bloody Suarez worked.

Zhang has teased a step to air weight for her next match, where she would immediately challenge to the title in an attempt to become a two-division champion. And with her latest performance would get the bet against her.