Denise Gomes Bio
Denise Pacheco Gomes (born December 30, 1999) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the women’s Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Trained at Paraná Vale Tudo, she has built a reputation as a powerful striker known for finishing opponents with her striking combinations. As of November 11, 2025, she is ranked #13 in the official UFC women’s strawweight rankings, reflecting her steady climb through one of the most competitive divisions in mixed martial arts.
Since turning professional in 2017, Denise Gomes has competed across regional Brazilian shows, Invicta Fighting Championships, and the UFC, amassing a verified professional record of 12 wins and 3 losses. Standing 157 cm tall and competing at 52 kg, she currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she continues her preparation for international competition.
Early Life and Background
Denise Pacheco Gomes was born on December 30, 1999, in São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. São Leopoldo is a city in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, a region known for producing a strong pipeline of combat sports athletes who later transition to the international stage. Growing up in this environment gave Gomes early exposure to martial arts culture and shaped her interest in competitive fighting.
From a young age, Gomes gravitated toward combat sports, training in disciplines that would later form the foundation of her mixed martial arts skill set. Her development took place primarily in Brazil, where she began refining her striking and grappling under the guidance of established coaches. This grounding in fundamentals and her disciplined training habits prepared her for the demands of a professional MMA career.
Path to MMA
Denise Gomes began her professional mixed martial arts career in 2017, fighting primarily on the Brazilian regional circuit. Over her early years, she built a strong foundation, recording a pre-Invicta record of 4-1 and signaling that she had the skills necessary to compete at a higher level. Her performances in regional promotions drew the attention of international organizations looking for fresh strawweight talent.
Her first major opportunity outside Brazil came when she faced Milana Dudieva at Invicta FC 46 on March 9, 2022, winning by technical knockout in the third round using a combination of knees and punches. Months later, on August 23, 2022, she stepped onto Dana White’s Contender Series 51, where she defeated Rayanne Amanda by unanimous decision. That victory earned Denise Gomes a UFC contract, opening the door to the largest stage in mixed martial arts.
Denise Gomes Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
During her early career, Denise Gomes fought exclusively in Brazil, building experience and sharpening her skills in regional promotions. She compiled a strong winning record during this period, demonstrating her ability to finish opponents and adapt to a variety of opponents. Her performances on the regional circuit established her as one of Brazil’s most promising strawweight prospects.
By the time she signed with Invicta, Gomes had already earned a reputation as a dangerous finisher, with much of her success coming through her aggressive striking. The transition from regional shows to internationally recognized promotions required adjustments in competition style, travel, and preparation, and she handled the move with consistent performances.
UFC Debut and Strawweight Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Denise Gomes made her UFC debut on September 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 210, stepping in on short notice to face Loma Lookboonmee after replacing Diana Belbiţă. Although she lost the bout by unanimous decision, the appearance confirmed her readiness for the top level. She quickly bounced back, stopping Bruna Brasil by technical knockout at UFC on ESPN 44 on April 15, 2023.
Her most defining stretch came in 2023. At UFC 290 on July 8, 2023, Gomes faced Yazmin Jauregui and won by first-round technical knockout, a finish that earned her a Performance of the Night award. Although she later dropped a decision to veteran Angela Hill at UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis on November 4, 2023, her stock inside the division continued to rise. By the end of 2023, she had firmly established herself as a rising name in the strawweight division.
Paraná Vale Tudo and the 2024–2025 Era
Training out of Paraná Vale Tudo, Denise Gomes entered a strong run of form through 2024 and 2025. On June 8, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 57, she defeated Eduarda Moura by split decision in a catchweight bout after Moura missed the strawweight limit. Months later, on November 9, 2024, she scored a unanimous decision win over former KSW Flyweight Champion Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC Fight Night 247, further cementing her place among the division’s elite.
In 2025, Gomes continued her ascent. She defeated former Cage Fury FC Strawweight Champion Elise Reed by second-round technical knockout at UFC Fight Night 256 on May 17, 2025, earning another Performance of the Night award. On November 8, 2025, she closed out her year with a unanimous decision win over Tecia Pennington at UFC Fight Night 264, a result that pushed her into the top fifteen of the official UFC women’s strawweight rankings.
Driving Style and Strengths
Denise Gomes is widely recognized for her aggressive striking style, blending powerful knees, sharp punching combinations, and strong clinch work. Several of her UFC victories have come by way of technical knockout, reflecting her finishing instincts. Her ability to maintain composure across three rounds has also allowed her to bank decisions when needed, demonstrating a well-rounded and adaptable game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most significant moments of Gomes’s career is her Dana White’s Contender Series 51 victory, which earned her a UFC contract. Her first-round technical knockout of Yazmin Jauregui at UFC 290 and her second-round finish of Elise Reed at UFC Fight Night 256 both earned Performance of the Night awards. By November 2025, she had reached #13 in the official UFC women’s strawweight rankings.
Denise Gomes Career Wins
Throughout her professional career, Denise Gomes has compiled a verified record of 12 wins and 3 losses. Her victories include finishes by technical knockout, split decision wins, and unanimous decision performances, illustrating a balanced attack that combines finishing instincts with the patience to outpoint durable opponents.
UFC and Major Promotions Highlights
Within the UFC, Denise Gomes has earned notable wins over Bruna Brasil, Yazmin Jauregui, Eduarda Moura, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Elise Reed, and Tecia Pennington. Her finishes of Brasil, Jauregui, and Reed stand out as the most decisive, with the Jauregui and Reed bouts both earning Performance of the Night awards. Outside the UFC, she earned a third-round technical knockout win over Milana Dudieva at Invicta FC 46 and captured a Contender Series contract with a unanimous decision over Rayanne Amanda.
Other Wins and Performances
Earlier in her career, Denise Gomes built a 4-1 record on the Brazilian regional circuit, where she developed the skills and confidence that allowed her to transition to international promotions. These early wins laid the groundwork for her Invicta and UFC opportunities.
Denise Gomes Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Denise Gomes’s family is limited, and detailed records about her parents and siblings are not widely available. Her rise to the UFC is largely associated with her individual work ethic and her training environment at Paraná Vale Tudo, the gym that has supported her professional development.
Personal Life
Denise Gomes currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, where many top UFC fighters base their training camps. She is professionally active on Instagram under the handle deegomes_, where she shares updates about her career and training. Beyond these public details, Gomes keeps her personal and family life private.
2025 Season Performance
Denise Gomes enjoyed a strong 2025 campaign, beginning with her second-round technical knockout of former Cage Fury FC Strawweight Champion Elise Reed at UFC Fight Night 256 on May 17, 2025. That finish earned her another Performance of the Night award and further established her as a serious contender in the 115-pound division. Heading into the second half of the year, she was widely viewed as one of the breakout names at strawweight.
On November 8, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 264, Gomes closed out the year with a unanimous decision victory over Tecia Pennington, a result that pushed her into the top fifteen of the official UFC women’s strawweight rankings. By November 11, 2025, she held the #13 spot, a clear sign of her continued rise and growing importance to the division’s future title picture.
With momentum on her side, a multi-fight UFC winning streak, and the backing of Paraná Vale Tudo, Denise Gomes enters the next phase of her career as a fighter firmly in the mix among the elite of the strawweight division.