Zhang vs Suarez Prediction

🔊In the co-main event of UFC 312, which will take place at the “Qudos Bank” arena, Chinese fighter Weili Zhang will face American Tatiana Suarez. The title fight will be held in the strawweight category. Despite a long layoff, Suarez dealt with De La Rosa and Andrade without much trouble upon her return, earning a shot at the title. Will Zhang be able to defend her belt for the third consecutive time? Let's discuss.

◼ Weili Zhang

The Chinese athlete is a versatile fighter with a background in Muay Thai and kickboxing, and she also holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Her MMA debut took place in 2013. Weili spent a significant part of her career in the local organization Kunlun Fight MMA, where she became a champion and defended her title several times. From there, she moved to the UFC, quickly capturing the strawweight championship. Despite setbacks in fights against Rose Namajunas, Zhang redeemed herself by reclaiming the championship title in November 2022. Since then, "Magnum" has defended her belt twice, defeating Brazilian Amanda Lemos and fellow countrywoman Yan Xiaonan. In total, Weili has 25 wins and 3 losses.

◼ Tatiana Suarez

The fighter from the USA is a wrestler by base, a medalist at world championships in freestyle wrestling. Additionally, Tatiana holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Suarez made her professional debut in 2014. Just two years later, the American appeared on the TUF show, won the program, and earned a contract with the UFC. In Dana White's promotion, Suarez continued to win, with former UFC champions Alexa Grasso and Carla Esparza among her defeated opponents. After a three-year break due to injury, Tatiana returned to the octagon with a bang: within a year, she defeated two opponents by submission, and both of her fights were awarded "Performance of the Night." Currently, Suarez has 11 victories without a single loss.

📝 Editor's Prediction

Both athletes have an impressive percentage of early victories for the women's division: 76% of Zhang's wins and 75% of Suarez's wins were achieved without the judges' intervention. Moreover, representatives of different styles will clash in the octagon: the Chinese fighter prefers to conduct her fights standing up, while the American aims to dominate on the ground. Such fights rarely go to the judges' decision. Based on the above, we recommend betting on an early finish to the match.