Yan Xiaonan and Denise Gomes will meet in the co-main event of UFC Shanghai on August 29. The women's strawweight bout adds a high-profile matchup to the growing card.
Yan Xiaonan and Denise Gomes are set to square off in the co-main event of UFC Shanghai on August 29, with both women's strawweight contenders looking to make a statement on home soil — or at the very least, on one of the UFC's marquee international cards.
Yan, ranked third in the women's strawweight division, carries a 19-5-0 record into the bout. The 37-year-old orthodox striker is a relentless volume fighter, landing 4.69 significant strikes per minute at 45 percent accuracy. She works behind her hands primarily, averaging less than one takedown per 15 minutes and recording no submission attempts, making her approach straightforwardly aggressive on the feet.
Gomes, known as "Dee," brings a 12-3-0 record and a contrasting skill set. The 26-year-old Brazilian out of GAEA Project lands 4.43 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy rate of 49 percent — slightly sharper than her opponent — while also threatening on the mat with 1.45 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.7 submission attempts in the same span. Despite standing three inches shorter than Yan at five-foot-two, Gomes shares an identical 63-inch reach.
Why it matters
- Yan's third-place divisional ranking means a strong performance could push her back into title contention in a division where positions shift quickly.
- Gomes' takedown and submission output gives her a clear path to victory if she can drag the fight to the canvas against a striker-first opponent.
- The style matchup — high-volume striking from both fighters, with Gomes adding a grappling dimension — sets up an entertaining contest that should have real implications for the strawweight top five.
