After a lengthy layoff due to injury, Tatiana Suarez is targeted to make her return to the octagon against former title challenger Roxanne Modafferi.

Suarez (8-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) entered the UFC after winning season 23 of “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2016. Undefeated as a strawweight, she was last in action against Nina Nunes at UFC 238 in June of 2019, although her return will be in a different division. Sidelined with a neck injury, Suarez recently stated she was anticipating a return to action sometime this summer.

A person with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the targeting booking with MMA Junkie following a report from Ariel Helwani. The promotion is targeting a return at UFC 266 to face Modafferi at flyweight.

UFC is targeting Tatiana Suarez vs. Roxanne Modafferi at 125 pounds for UFC 266 on Sept. 25, sources say. Not done yet but that’s the one they have zeroed in on. Would be Suarez’s first fight since June 2019.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 29, 2021

Modafferi (25-18 MMA, 4-5 UFC) is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Viviane Araujo in January. The former title challenger has alternated wins and losses since entering the UFC in 2017.

Modafferi currently sits at number 13 in the USA Today Sports rankings.

With the addition of this matchup, the UFC 266 lineup includes:

• Jan Blachowicz vs. Glover Teixeira *for the light heavyweight title
• Jessica Andrade vs. Cynthia Calvillo
• Uros Medic vs. Jalin Turner
• Merab Dvalishvili vs. Marlon Moraes
• Curtis Blaydes vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik