Tatiana Suarez wins TUF strawweight trophy with 1st-round submission
Tatiana Suarez's perseverance carried her to the "Ultimate Fighter 23" strawweight crown.
The 25-year-old wrestler got the better of a scramble with TUF teammate Amanda Cooper, resulting in a D'Arce choke that had Cooper tapping out in the first round of their tournament final at the TUF 23 Finale on Friday.
Lindo Darce Choke para Tatiana Suarez, la nueva Ultimate Fighter y sobreviviente de cáncer #TUF23Finale pic.twitter.com/K4OMJgpZvt
— MMA Videos En Españo (@MMAVideos_ES) July 9, 2016
With the win, Suarez becomes only the second strawweight winner in the reality show's 11-year history. She claims the prize of a six-figure contract with the UFC as well as a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
It was a difficult journey for Suarez, a former Olympic hopeful whose dreams were put on hold when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2011.
That ordeal undoubtedly helped her handle the trials of the TUF house. Suarez made it through the competition with little trouble, culminating in a dominant win over Cooper.