Women’s strawweight fighters Tatiana Suarez and Viviane Pereira fought on the UFC Fight Night 120 card. Here is how the fight played out.
Tatiana Suarez and Viviane Pereira made their UFC last year, winning their debut fights. The two strawweight fighters entered Saturday’s fight with undefeated records. However, only one fighter would exit UFC Fight Night 120 with an undefeated record.
Suarez improved her record to 5-0 after she became the first women to win with a D’Arce choke, winning a performance of the night bonus. In her UFC debut, Suarez submitted Amanda Cooper in July 2016 at The Ultimate Fighter finale. However, Suarez has not fought since her debut win after undergoing surgery for a torn bicep tendon.
Pereira made her UFC debut at UFC 206, defeated Valérie Létourneau. In her next fight, Pereira defeated Jamie Moyle, improving her record to 13-0. However, Pereira is significantly smaller than Suarez, who is four inches taller and has a three-inch reach advantage.
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Round 1:
Suarez opened the round attempting several leg kicks, landing a few to the lead leg of Pereira. Pereira landed a counter right, catching Suarez after she threw a kick. Suarez landed a right kick but had her neck tied up by Pereira against the fence. Pereira attempted to go for a submission but Suarez used single leg takedown to break the hold. From the bottom, Pereira attempted a triangle but could not lock in the submission as Suarez landed several strikes before transitioning to the back. Suarez landed multiple strikes to her opponent’s head and body, attempting to open up Pereira for a rear-naked choke but was never able to get under the chin. Suarez continued to throw multiple strikes before scrambling to side control, finishing the round with a big elbow before the bell.
FanSided scored it: 10-9 Suarez
Round 2:
Suarez went for a double leg takedown but had it initially blocked by Pereira but was eventually able to get her down to the mat. In similar fashion to the first round, Suarez landed heavy strikes and elbows. Suarez landed a big left hand followed by an elbow before getting on top of her opponent and landed alternating elbows. Pereira attempted to escape with no success, finding herself pushed up against the fence, unable to escape. While against the cage, both fighters landed strikes before Suarez landed a knee to the body and another double leg takedown. Suarez finished the round with multiple hammer fists and elbows.
FanSided scored it: 10-8 Suarez
Round 3:
Much like the first two rounds, Suarez found herself on top of her Pereira after another takedown. Despite the fight only being 15 minutes, Suarez spent two-thirds of the fight on top of Pereira. Suarez continued to land more strikes before taking Pereira’s back and going for another rear-naked choke. Again, Suarez was unable to get under the chin and transitioned to an armbar attempt but could not complete the submission before the bell sounded.
FanSided scored it: 10-9 Suarez