Zhang vs Suarez UFC Prediction, Picks and Best Bets: Bank on Tatiana Suarez on Feb 8

We will crown a new strawweight champion this UFC 312. Tatiana Suarez will remain unbeaten as she dethrones Zhang Weili in a closely contested bout.

The UFC odds have moved toward Suarez as she is now at a pick’em line after opening as a slight underdog. Bet on her as her wrestling edge makes her the nigh-unstoppable. We can’t underestimate the champ so here’s how we’ll bet this.

💥🇺🇸 Tatiana Suarez is one of the most dominant grapplers in WMMA history!

This Saturday at #UFC312, she challenges Zhang Weili for the strawweight title. Will she add another huge finish to her undefeated record? 👀🔥#WMMA #UFC pic.twitter.com/OfS4MTXPpS

— Women’s MMA Rankings (@WMMARankings) February 3, 2025

Zhang vs Suarez How To Watch

• Fight: Weili Zhang (25-3), Tatiana Suarez (10-0)
• Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 8, 10:00 p.m. ET
• Location: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
• Zhang vs Suarez Live Stream: Pay-per-view

Stay updated! Check the latest UFC news here before placing your bets.

Top 2 Zhang vs Suarez Picks: Winner and Fight Prop

1. Suarez Becomes the New Champion

Our UFC expert pick is on Suarez. At a pick’em price, it’s worth a wager though we’d like to see her go back to being a slight underdog. Maybe there will be some buyback on Zhang Weili. The champion has not lost since 2021 and has beaten her opponents with little-to-no issues. However, she hasn’t fought a dominant grappler like Suarez.

The American would be a bigger name had she not repeatedly gotten injured. She has not fought since 2023 and has only twice since June 2019. Yet “ring rust” was not a thing for her as she made quick work of Montana De La Rosa and Jessica Andrade. The former is a respectable veteran while the latter was a former champion and a perennial title contender.

Suarez can be likened to the “Khabib Nurmagomedov” of the division. She’s that prolific as a grappler. She’s landed 6.2 takedowns per-15-minute average at a 61% accuracy. This has led to her being rarely hit at a measly 1.38 significant strikes absorbed per minute.

Zhang has solid wrestling defense. But if Yan can take her down three times, Suarez will do it repeatedly. The only question for Suarez is if she can keep taking Zhang down over five rounds. We’re betting online that she will.

However, we’re also not confident about Suarez finishing Zhang. The champion has only been felled once and it was via swift head kick from Rose Namajunas. Suarez is not head-kicking Zhang and she may not submit her. As an alternate to a moneyline bet, take Suarez to win on points at +350. This could be the best UFC bet here.

Bet on Tatiana Suarez to win (-125)

Her ground game is not to be slept on 😮‍💨

Weili Zhang is chasing her 3rd title defense at #UFC312! pic.twitter.com/o3sGphIrXA

— UFC (@ufc) February 3, 2025

2. Zhang vs Suarez Goes The Distance

If we’re backing Suarez to win by a decision, we’ll double down on bet on this fight to go all five rounds. This is a gutsy MMA prediction but it’s long enough to make it worth betting. Suarez finished five of her seven UFC fights. But one does not simply take out Zhang.

“I think it’s going to be fireworks. I think we’re both go-getters. She doesn’t stand around. I don’t stand around. So it doesn’t make for a boring fight, I don’t think at all. I think we’re both going after it. We both want to win,” Suarez told MMA Fighting.

The first few rounds will get dicey as Suarez will take Zhang down. She’ll threaten to finish her. On their feet, Zhang could also put Suarez in danger. But after the first two rounds, the pace will slow down and the odds of a finish get slimmer.

As a hedge, we can also bet on this fight to finish in Round 1 at +700 and/or Round 2 at +500. But to keep it simple, bet this fight to go all five rounds at better than even odds.

Bet on Fight To Go The Distance – Yes (+115)

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