Gomes Campaigns For Dern Title Shot After Yan KO

Denise Gomes wants a UFC strawweight title shot against Mackenzie Dern after knocking out Yan Xiaonan in August.

The Brazilian contender told MMA Fighting that none of the division's top fighters have delivered the same level of finishes during her current five-fight winning streak. "What do the fans want to see? What I've been delivering: violence and intelligence," Gomes said. "That alone is a huge reason. I deserve it."

Gomes Confident In Grappling Against Dern

The 26-year-old holds a 7-2 UFC record with four knockouts and disputes the notion that Dern's jiu-jitsu expertise would pose problems. Dern claimed the vacant belt with a decision over Virna Jandiroba in October 2025 and defended it against Gillian Robertson this past August, also by decision. Gomes said she has refined her own grappling for mixed martial arts and plans to neutralize the champion's ground game while imposing her striking.

Gomes also revealed frustration at not receiving a performance bonus for the Xiaonan finish. She said her next opponent will have to pay for that oversight, joking that she now has a bonus building up that she intends to collect with another spectacular knockout. Tatiana Suarez recently defeated Jandiroba and called for a title shot, but Gomes believes her finishing rate sets her apart from other contenders at 115 pounds.

The strawweight division has seen former champion Zhang Weili step away, leaving Dern atop the rankings. Gomes said she wants to fight Zhang eventually but considers a victory over Dern the necessary first step. No timeline has been announced for Dern's next title defense.

Photo by Luz Fuertes on Unsplash

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — Denise Gomes campaigns for UFC title shot at Mackenzie Dern after delivering ‘violence’ against Yan Xiaonan | MMA Fighting