Dern Targeted For March Title Defense Against Gomes

UFC strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern is expected to defend her 115-pound belt against Denise Gomes in March 2027, MMA Mania reports, citing Brazilian outlet Laerte Viana. The bout remains unsigned but is targeted for early next year.

Gomes enters the reported title shot on a five-fight winning streak, most recently stopping Yan Xiaonan with a thudding elbow knockout. The 26-year-old Brazilian's other four victories came against lower-ranked opposition, making this a jump in competition that bypasses more established contenders.

Zhang Weili And Tatiana Suarez Also In Mix

Former champion Zhang Weili has not fought since vacating the strawweight belt to challenge Valentina Shevchenko at flyweight last year. Zhang's availability remains unclear, according to the report, leaving the division's title picture open.

Tatiana Suarez presents another option after beating former title challenger Virna Jandiroba at UFC Vegas 124 last weekend. That marked Suarez's third straight win over top-10 opponents, the kind of streak that typically earns a championship opportunity.

Dern captured the belt at UFC 330 in August, stopping Gillian Robertson in Philadelphia. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist has yet to face Zhang in what many consider the division's most compelling matchup. The promotion appears to be leaning toward the younger knockout artist instead.

Photo by Benigno Hoyuela on Unsplash

Original reporting:

• mmamania.com — Report: Mackenzie Dern vs. Denise Gomes targeted for March 2027 | MMA Mania