Tatiana Suarez confident she could impose her will against Zhang Weili: 'My grappling is very, very good'

Tatiana Suarez thinks she has what it takes to dethrone UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili.

Weili (24-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) notched her second title defense when she defeated Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 earlier this month. The champion has been cruising to victories as of late, and Suarez (10-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) looks forward to the challenge if she’s next in line.

“I’m really excited to fight Weili when given the opportunity because she’s had a couple of dominant performances, and I really want to test myself,” Suarez told MMA Junkie Radio.

Although Weili won four of the five rounds against Xiaonan, Xiaonan had her moments on the feet and was credited with three takedowns. However, that didn’t necessarily make Suarez grow in confidence. The undefeated standout wrestler already believed she had the style to beat Weili.

“I think prior to that matchup, I kind of know how I would do,” Suarez said. “It showed just a little bit more of her game and things like that. I thought she did well. She was able to capitalize like I knew she would. I knew she would win in the grappling department just because Yan is just not good at all on the ground. I have nothing against her but she’s – I mean she’s a phenomenal striker, but she’s not good on the ground at all.

“So I knew that Weili would be able to outgrapple her, and Yan not being a wrestler, actually got a couple of takedowns if I can remember. …S he didn’t mean to. I think they just engaged and she threw her to the ground or something. Just seeing that just shows me that I think I could impose my will against her, and my grappling is very, very good. I think I’d do well just like I’ve always known.”