Gilbert Burns expects Tatiana Suarez to ‘Khabib’ Zhang Weili

Gilbert Burns sees Tatiana Suarez overwhelming Zhang Weili with her wrestling at UFC 312.

Suarez (11-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) challenges strawweight champion Weili (25-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).

Suarez was an Olympic wrestling hopeful, who had her dreams crushed after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Burns respects her journey of overcoming adversity, and thinks she’ll dethrone Weili decisively to become the UFC’s 15th undefeated, undisputed titleholder.

“I’m a huge fan of both, especially Tatiana Suarez,” Burns said on his YouTube channel. “She had cancer, she beat cancer, she had so many injuries, but now she’s up on her feet, she’s fighting for the title. I think she’s going ‘Khabib’ Zhang Weili. I think she’s going to take her down and going to keep taking her down and ground-and-pound and ground-and-pound.

“Maybe a submission, I don’t think so. But I think Tatiana Suarez is going to be, ‘And New’ by decision, beating Zhang Weili. Don’t count Zhang Weili out, she’s still going to have her moments. I think she might hurt Tatiana a little bit, but Tatiana knows her moment. She’s going to take her down and she’s going to Khabib and win by dominant decision. Tatiana Suarez, ‘And New.’”

Oddsmakers suggest undefeated Suarez will become the new UFC strawweight champion, with many betting sites pegging her as a slight favorite.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.