A women's strawweight matchup between Xiaonan Yan and Denise Gomes is in the works for UFC Shanghai on August 29. The bout would be a significant addition to the promotion's return to China.
A women's strawweight contest between Yan Xiaonan and Denise Gomes is being targeted for UFC Shanghai on August 29, according to reports. The bout has not been officially confirmed, but if finalized it would stand as a marquee addition to the promotion's return to China.
Yan, 37, carries a 19-5-0 record and is currently ranked third in the women's strawweight division, making her one of the most decorated fighters on the Chinese combat sports scene. The orthodox striker operates at a high output, landing 4.69 significant strikes per minute at 45 percent accuracy, and has proven herself a credible threat at the top of a stacked 115-pound class.
Her reported opponent, Denise "Dee" Gomes of Brazil, brings a 12-3-0 record and represents one of the division's more dangerous rising prospects at just 26 years old. Fighting out of GAEA Project, Gomes lands 4.43 significant strikes per minute with a sharper 49 percent accuracy rate. She also adds a wrestling dimension to her game, averaging 1.45 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes, giving her a more varied toolkit than many strawweights.
Both fighters share an identical 63-inch reach despite a three-inch height difference, with Yan standing five-foot-five and Gomes five-foot-two.
Why it matters
- Yan's No. 3 ranking means a win for either fighter carries real title-picture weight in a competitive strawweight division.
- Gomes's takedown and submission activity could pose a stylistic test for a striker-first opponent in Yan.
- The card represents the UFC's return to China, and Yan fighting on home soil adds significant local stakes to the event.
- The matchup remains unconfirmed, so the bout's place on the card could still change.
