Suarez reflects on UFC 312 loss: 'I'm right where I want to be'

Tatiana Suarez is holding her head high after losing her undefeated record at UFC 312.

The strawweight contender fell to 10-1 as a pro after dropping a lopsided unanimous decision to champion Zhang Weili this past weekend in Sydney, Australia.

"Win, lose, or draw, I'm right where I want to be," Suarez wrote Tuesday on Instagram. "Doing what I love to do every single day of my life. ... Living the dream."

She added, "I've experienced it all: thrill, agony, happiness, heartbreak. That's what life is all about. I'm blessed to have this life. And I'll share these experiences with my children and the future generations to come."

Suarez, who had been hailed as a future champion ever since she won "The Ultimate Fighter 23" in 2016, was the betting favorite against Zhang. But Zhang dominated Suarez in the final 20 minutes to earn a one-sided victory.

Suarez, 34, began her Octagon career with seven straight wins and earned a title shot by submitting former champion Jessica Andrade in August 2023. The California native ended an 18-month layoff in the loss to Zhang.