Rising strawweight Denise Gomes, aged 25, initially made waves in the UFC with impressive back-to-back knockout victories in 2023, including a stunning 20-second finish against Yazmin Jauregui. However, her momentum was halted by a loss to seasoned veteran Angela Hill. This setback proved to be a turning point, prompting a change in her approach to the sport.
Following the defeat, Gomes successfully rebounded with decision wins over Eduarda Moura and Karolina Kowalkiewicz, bringing her UFC record to 4-2 and professional record to 10-3. She views her upcoming May 17th bout against Elise Reed as another vital opportunity for personal and athletic development.
Speaking before her fight, Gomes stated, “I’m focused on improving and thinking long-term. In the past, I had a lot of heart but lacked maturity and strategic thinking. Now, I’m seeking that. The Karolina fight is an example. People commented I could have gone for the knockout, which is true, but prioritizing the finish might have hindered my overall growth. I’m striving to become a complete fighter and working hard behind the scenes. I need to test myself. Regardless of what others think, I must plan for the future. Some people don’t understand that just because I possess knockout power, it doesn`t mean that`s my only tool. I need to develop all aspects of my game.”
Her opponent, Elise Reed, a former Cage Fury strawweight champion with a win over Jasmine Jasudavicius, has experienced an up-and-down run in the promotion. Reed, 32, enters the fight coming off a decision victory against Jessica Penne, bringing her UFC record to 4-4.
Gomes recognizes the progress in her fighting style but acknowledges it`s an ongoing journey. “These recent fights have been great for my confidence, but I’m still on my path,” she explained. “It’s one step at a time. My focus isn`t on money or rankings; it’s on being better than I was in my last performance because I know success follows from that. My biggest goal for this year, both as an athlete and a person, is self-improvement.”
Understanding that MMA is both a sport and entertainment, Gomes is aware that fighting strategically rather than always pursuing a crowd-pleasing brawl could potentially impact her popularity in the long run. However, she asks for patience from the fans.
“It’s particularly challenging because of the boos,” Gomes admitted. “Fans love seeing fighters inflicting damage on each other, and we enjoy that too. But when we need to grapple instead of stand and trade strikes, people boo. In those moments, you need self-control and remind yourself, ‘No, I’m fighting for myself first, and then for the fans.’ This strategic approach will serve a greater purpose in the future.”
Gomes describes herself as being in a “transition” from a purely action-focused fighter to a well-rounded martial artist, feeling confident enough to finally call herself a complete MMA fighter. Should she win on Saturday, Gomes plans to request a fight on an away card to step out of her comfort zone at the APEX and compete before a larger live audience.
“I’m proving in each fight that I’m more than just a striker,” Gomes stated. “My guiding principle is aggressiveness combined with intelligence. Aggression got me to this point, but I believe it alone isn`t enough to reach the top. That’s what separates the elite. I feel I have that inherent aggressiveness, and I’ve become smarter for this specific fight.”
She added, “I don`t necessarily think [Reed] will make it to the third round because I have a strong sense for finishing fights, but I’m also capable of grappling. My aim is to go in there, feel the dynamics of the fight, and maintain control. My previous knockouts were largely instinctive, though still combined with some intelligence. But I want more than just instinct now. The fights I lost pushed me to consider, ‘What happens if my initial strategy doesn’t work? What’s my backup plan?’ I’ve been underestimated before, and I don’t underestimate anyone, but I know my own capabilities. I know I have the tools to finish her.”
