Denise Gomes Record: 12-3-0

UFC run

Gomes' UFC debut in September 2022 ended in a unanimous-decision loss to Loma Lookboonmee, but she answered with the run that put her on the map. In April 2023 she stopped Bruna Brasil by second-round TKO, and then, at UFC 290 in July 2023, she authored the signature moment of her career: a 20-second knockout of previously unbeaten prospect Yazmin Jauregui, the fastest finish in UFC women's strawweight history. A unanimous-decision loss to veteran Angela Hill in November 2023 slowed her momentum, but Gomes responded with the best stretch of her career. She edged unbeaten Eduarda Moura by split decision in June 2024, outpointed former title challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz that November, stopped Elise Reed by second-round TKO in May 2025, and closed out 2025 with a unanimous-decision win over veteran Tecia Pennington – a four-fight winning streak that established her as a fixture in the strawweight rankings picture.

Fighting style

Gomes is a pressure striker whose calling card is power, particularly a straight right hand she fires as opponents come forward. Seven of her 12 wins have come by knockout or TKO, a 58% finish rate that belies how often she ends fights early when she lands clean. She is comfortable banking rounds when finishes do not come – five of her wins are decisions – reflecting a maturing game that pairs her early aggression with the patience to win on the cards. The clearest hole in her résumé is grappling: her UFC losses have come on the scorecards, but a heel-hook submission defeat in a grappling-only bout underlines that her path to victory runs through her striking rather than the mat.

Career highlights

• Fastest finish in UFC strawweight history — a 20-second knockout of unbeaten prospect Yazmin Jauregui at UFC 290 set the division's record and announced her as a knockout threat.
• Four-fight winning streak — victories over Eduarda Moura, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Elise Reed and Tecia Pennington through 2024 and 2025 vaulted her up the strawweight ladder.
• Contender Series graduate — a decision win on Dana White's Contender Series earned the UFC contract she has steadily justified.