Strawweight competitor Denise Gomes, 25, garnered significant attention in the UFC following back-to-back knockout victories in 2023 over Bruna Brasil and Yazmin Jauregui, the latter finish achieved in a mere 20 seconds. However, her upward trajectory was momentarily halted by a loss to seasoned veteran Angela Hill.
This setback prompted Gomes to fundamentally alter her strategy and overall approach to mixed martial arts.
Following the defeat, Gomes successfully rebounded by securing two decision wins against Eduarda Moura and Karolina Kowalkiewicz. These victories improved her record within the promotion to 4-2, and her professional overall standing to 10-3. She views her upcoming strawweight clash against Elise Reed, scheduled for May 17th, as another crucial opportunity for personal and athletic growth.
Speaking ahead of her fight at UFC Vegas 106, Gomes elaborated on her mindset: “I am actively improving and consciously thinking about my future in the sport. Previously, I relied heavily on heart and aggression but lacked maturity and strategic intelligence. I`m now deliberately cultivating those aspects. The fight against Karolina is a prime example. While some felt I could have chased a knockout, and I realistically could have, focusing solely on the finish might have limited my overall development. My goal is to become a truly complete fighter. I`m dedicated to putting in the hard work behind the scenes and testing my capabilities. Regardless of public perception, I must prioritize my future. Some might question why I wouldn`t just leverage my significant knockout power, but becoming a complete fighter is my true aspiration.”
Her opponent, Elise Reed, a former Cage Fury strawweight champion with a prior win over Jasmine Jasudavicius, has experienced an up-and-down run since joining the UFC. The 32-year-old recently secured a decision victory over Jessica Penne in her latest bout, bringing her UFC record to 4-4.
Gomes acknowledges the evolution in her own skill set but underscores that this process is still very much ongoing.
Gomes reflected on her recent performances, stating, “These last couple of fights were highly beneficial, providing a significant boost to my confidence. Nevertheless, I understand I`m still on this developmental path, progressing one step at a time. My focus is not on financial gain or climbing the rankings; my primary objective is to consistently improve upon my last performance, trusting that success and recognition will naturally follow as a consequence. For the current year, becoming a better athlete and person is my overriding goal.”
Acknowledging the dual nature of MMA as both a sport and an entertainment product, Gomes is aware that delivering performances potentially viewed as less exciting might negatively impact her public image in the long term. Despite this, she calls for patience from the fanbase.
She commented on the difficulty of balancing development with entertainment: “The crowd`s reaction, specifically the boos, makes this particularly challenging. Fans inherently enjoy seeing fighters engaging in aggressive, back-and-forth exchanges. As fighters, we appreciate that too. But when the strategic demands of a fight dictate grappling over standing and trading, the audience often expresses their disapproval. In those moments, it requires significant self-control to internally affirm, `I am fighting primarily for my own growth and future, and the fans` immediate entertainment comes second.` This strategic approach, while potentially less thrilling instantly, serves a larger purpose for my long-term career.”
Gomes describes herself as being in a deliberate “transition” – moving from being predominantly an action-oriented fighter towards becoming a more technically sound, well-rounded athlete. She feels this evolution has progressed to the point where she can now confidently define herself as a comprehensive MMA fighter. Should she emerge victorious on Saturday, Gomes intends to request a slot on a major fight card held outside the APEX facility. This move aims to challenge herself by stepping outside her comfort zone and performing before a larger, live audience in a different venue.
“With every fight, I am actively demonstrating that I am more than just a striker,” Gomes stated. “My guiding principle is `aggressiveness with intelligence`. While aggression was instrumental in bringing me to this level, I firmly believe that relying solely on it will not propel me to the very top of the sport – strategic understanding is what separates elite fighters. I am confident that I possess both the necessary aggression and an enhanced strategic approach for this upcoming fight.”
Regarding her opponent, Gomes expressed confidence: “I don`t necessarily expect [Reed] to last the full three rounds. I still possess a strong ability to find knockouts, but I am also capable on the ground. My intention is to enter the fight, adapt to how it unfolds, and dictate the pace and control the action. My previous knockouts were driven significantly by instinct, though intelligence was certainly involved. However, I aspire for more than just highlight-reel finishes. The fights I lost were crucial in pushing me to consider, `What is my backup plan if the initial strategy doesn`t succeed?` While I have been underestimated in the past and never underestimate any opponent, I am confident in my own capabilities and believe I have the means to secure a finish against her.”
