Former Title Challenger Yan Xiaonan to Face Denise Gomes in UFC Shanghai co-main event
The former strawweight title challenger returns to action in front of her home crowd against rising Brazilian prospect Denise Gomes.
The UFC has added another important bout to its upcoming event in China. Former strawweight title challenger Yan Xiaonan will face rising Brazilian prospect Denise Gomes in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 286, scheduled for Aug. 29 in Shanghai.
Yan Xiaonan Returns at Home
One of the first Chinese fighters to establish herself in the UFC, Xiaonan returns to compete in her home country after suffering a unanimous decision loss to Virna Jandiroba in her most recent appearance. The last time "Fury" fought in China was in November 2024, when she defeated Tabatha Ricci.
Currently ranked No. 5 in the strawweight division, the Chinese fighter will look to bounce back and move back into title contention. At UFC 300, Xiaonan challenged fellow Chinese fighter Zhang Weili for the strawweight title but lost by unanimous decision.
Denise Gomes Riding Momentum
On the other hand, Gomes enters the bout riding a four-fight winning streak, including a unanimous decision victory over Tecia Pennington in her most recent appearance. Currently ranked No. 8 in the division, the Brazilian prospect continues climbing the rankings as she looks to move one step closer to a title shot.
UFC Returns to Shanghai
After a year away from mainland China, the promotion returns to Shanghai with another major card. The show will be headlined by the bantamweight showdown between Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong.
