Pulling a fighter from the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings is never an easy decision, but it’s even tougher when that athlete has such clear upside in terms of skill.

Such is the case with Tatiana Suarez, who entered this week ranked No. 3 at strawweight, as well as No. 7 in the women’s pound-for-pound list. However, the 30-year-old Suarez (8-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) hasn’t competed since UFC 238 in June 2019.

The MMA Junkie rankings criteria reads as follows: “Fighters are no longer eligible to be ranked after they’ve been inactive for 24 months, either due to injuries, drug/conduct suspensions, contract disputes or self-imposed hiatuses.”

Suarez was expected to return to action at next month’s UFC 266 event, shifting to the women’s flyweight division in the process. However, knee surgery has forced her out of that appearance, and now her future remains unclear as she recovers, though she has insisted she’ll fight again.

“I’ll continue to do everything in my power to get back to action!” Suarez recently wrote on Instagram.

In the meantime, Suarez’s departure sees multiple fighters move up the list at both strawweight and women’s pound-for-pound, as well as the return of Jessica Penne (14-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC) to the list at 115 pounds as an honorable mention. Former UFC champ Carla Esparza (18-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) also finds herself on the pound-for-pound list in an honorable mention slot.

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