UFC Shanghai video: Denise Gomes crushes Yan Xiaonan with knockout elbow in Round 1

SHANGHAI, CHINA - AUGUST 29: Denise Gomes of Brazil knocks out Yan Xiaonan of China with an elbow in a strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center on August 29, 2026 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Denise Gomes might have punched her ticket to a title shot.

The Brazilian striker delivered a statement knockout over Yan Xiaonan in Saturday’s UFC Shanghai strawweight co-main event to record her fifth straight win and put herself near the front of the line to challenge champion Mackenzie Dern.

Watch the brutal finish below.

Denise Gomes just FOLDED Yan Xiaonan with a vicious standing elbow at #UFCShanghai! 😱😱pic.twitter.com/adxFlGZJSq

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) August 29, 2026

The 26-year-old Gomes was facing the toughest test of her career against the more experienced Yan, a one-time UFC title challenger, but didn’t look rattled by the challenge. Gomes came out as the aggressor from the start, welcoming a striking duel with Yan.

With less than 30 seconds remaining in the opening round, Gomes perfectly timed an elbow as Yan stepped in, stunning the Chinese veteran. Gomes landed two more hard punches as Yan fell to the mat to seal the deal at the 4:49 mark of Round 1.

Gomes now holds the longest active win streak at 115 pounds in the UFC, breaking a tie with Dern and fellow rising contender Fatima Kline. In her post-fight interview, Gomes didn’t have a callout in mind, instead saying she’s “ready for whoever the UFC brings to me.