Years later, that same connection to martial arts inspired Gomes to help create a social project where children can train.

Her story is therefore about more than UFC wins. It is also about finding something that changed her life, building a career around it and eventually trying to give the same opportunity to someone else.

Denise Pacheco Gomes Fighter Information

Who Is Denise Gomes?

Denise Pacheco Gomes is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC women’s strawweight division.

She is a Muay Thai-based fighter known for aggression, punching power and an ability to overwhelm opponents with combinations.

However, striking is only one part of her martial arts background.

Before becoming a UFC fighter, Gomes spent years training jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and some boxing. She has said that she trained for roughly a decade in her home region before her career took her elsewhere.

Along the way, she also worked several jobs and eventually built a career as a barber.

Where Is Denise Gomes From?

Gomes is from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Her official fighter information lists São Leopoldo as her birthplace. However, Gomes has explained that Sapucaia do Sul is the city she strongly associates with her upbringing and martial arts journey.

The two cities are close to one another.

In an interview, Gomes explained that she trained for years around São Leopoldo while describing Sapucaia do Sul as her city.

That southern Brazilian background remains important to her identity.

What Was Denise Gomes’ Childhood Like?

Gomes has described her childhood as difficult.

She grew up in a very large family and has spoken about having 12 siblings through her mother, although the family relationships involve different fathers.

Money and stability were not always easy.

As a child, Gomes also carried responsibilities that would normally belong to adults.

She has described waking early to care for animals such as horses, cows and goats. Instead of simply going to school and coming home to play, work was a normal part of daily life.

Did Denise Gomes Work as a Child?

Yes.

Gomes has said that she and her siblings worked from a young age.

For a period of her childhood, her responsibilities included caring for animals and taking them out to graze.

She has described working with horses, cows and goats and spending long periods looking after them.

Those responsibilities affected other areas of her childhood as well.

Did Denise Gomes Have Trouble Going to School?

Yes.

Gomes has openly said that she started formal education late.

According to her own account, she spent part of childhood working and caring for animals instead of attending school consistently.

As a result, she learned to read and write later than many other children.

She has said she completed only elementary-level schooling.

Rather than hiding that part of her history, Gomes speaks about it as one of the realities she had to overcome.

How Many Brothers and Sisters Does Denise Gomes Have?

Gomes comes from an unusually large family.

During a long-form interview, she explained that her mother had 13 children in total, including Denise, meaning Gomes grew up with 12 maternal siblings.

She has joked that the family is so large that remembering every sibling’s name in order can become difficult.

Still, several of her siblings remain closely connected to her life.

One younger brother has also trained martial arts with her.

Is Denise Gomes Close to Her Younger Brother?

Yes.

Gomes has spoken warmly about one of her younger brothers, who began training with her while still young.

During the pandemic, she needed someone to hold pads and train with her. Her younger brother began helping, even though he was initially out of shape and had little experience.

Eventually, martial arts became part of his own life.

Gomes has described taking pride in watching him mature and become more serious about training.

Did Denise Gomes Grow Up With Her Father?

No.

Gomes has said she did not grow up with her biological father.

She first met him when she was 19 years old.

By that point, she felt differently about the relationship because the period when she most wanted a father figure had already passed.

She has therefore spoken about learning to become independent at a relatively young age.

Why Does Denise Gomes Say Jiu-Jitsu Saved Her Life?

This is one of the most important parts of her story.

Gomes has spoken openly about a difficult home environment and problems during adolescence.

As she became older, she was exposed to drugs and other influences around her neighborhood. She has also acknowledged going through her own period of drug use.

Then jiu-jitsu gave her another direction.

Gomes described having a coach who cared about what she did outside the gym. More importantly, she did not want to disappoint him.

Gradually, training gave her a reason to stay away from things that were pulling her in the wrong direction.

She eventually described jiu-jitsu in very simple terms:

It saved her life.

Why Was Martial Arts So Important to Denise Gomes?

The gym gave Gomes structure that she did not always have elsewhere.

After school, she could go directly to jiu-jitsu rather than immediately returning home.

Training became both a passion and an escape.

Eventually, that passion became strong enough that Gomes left home at approximately 18 years old partly so she could continue training.

At the time, martial arts was not yet paying her bills.

Nevertheless, she wanted to build her life around it.

What Martial Arts Did Denise Gomes Train First?

Jiu-jitsu played a major role in her early development.

However, Gomes also spent years training Muay Thai and later added boxing and MMA.

She has said she built a broad combat-sports base over roughly 10 years in her home region before leaving.

Muay Thai eventually became the foundation style most commonly associated with her professional MMA career.

Who Were Denise Gomes’ First Coaches?

Gomes has mentioned several people who helped her early development.

In particular, she has identified Thiago and Nei as early Muay Thai coaches.

Later, she spoke proudly about helping one of those former coaches become involved again through the martial arts project she created in her hometown.

That connection matters because her current success has allowed her to bring opportunities back to people who were present near the beginning of her own journey.

What Did Denise Gomes Do Before Becoming a Full-Time Fighter?

Gomes worked.

A lot.

One of her most notable professions was barbering, but she did not start there.

Soon after beginning martial arts, Gomes knew a woman from jiu-jitsu who worked as a hairdresser. Because Gomes needed to contribute money at home while continuing to train, she started working as her assistant.

From there, she worked in other salons and slowly learned the trade.

Was Denise Gomes a Hairdresser?

She started as a salon assistant.

Initially, Gomes worked mainly in women’s hair salons.

However, she eventually realized that the schedule and some parts of salon work did not fit well with her ambition to become a fighter.

So she changed direction.

Instead of remaining an assistant, Gomes learned how to cut men’s hair and became a barber.

Why Did Denise Gomes Become a Barber?

Freedom.

Gomes wanted a profession that would allow her to choose her own working hours.

As a salon assistant, she depended on someone else’s schedule. That made it harder to organize serious training.

Barbering offered more control.

Once Gomes could manage her own chair and appointments, she could build work around her fighting schedule rather than building training around work.

That decision became an important step toward making MMA possible.

How Did Denise Gomes Learn to Cut Hair?

Mostly by doing it.

Gomes took some courses, but she has said practical experience taught her much more.

She believed her natural understanding of drawing, angles and shapes helped her learn quickly.

Her first practice models were conveniently available at home.

She had plenty of younger brothers.

Gomes has laughed about lining them up for free haircuts while she learned, occasionally leaving some less-than-perfect results along the way.

Did Barbering Help Denise Gomes Become a Fighter?

Yes, in more than one way.

First, barbering gave her the flexible schedule she needed to train seriously.

However, it also changed her personality.

Gomes describes herself as having once been extremely shy.

Cutting hair forced her to talk with customers, build relationships and make people comfortable.

Meanwhile, many clients knew she was a fighter and wanted to discuss combat sports.

Eventually, Gomes realized that the relationship worked both ways.

Fighting helped her barbering business, while barbering helped her become more confident speaking with people.

Does Denise Gomes Still Cut Hair?

Yes.

Even after reaching the UFC, Gomes never completely abandoned barbering.

She still cuts the hair of friends and people around her team.

For her, barbering is no longer simply a job.

It has become something she genuinely enjoys.

Gomes has described cutting hair as a way to relax and temporarily step away from fighting.

Does Denise Gomes Want Her Own Barbershop?

Yes.

Gomes has said she still dreams of having a barbershop.

In fact, she already purchased equipment for one and has spoken about enjoying the idea of occasionally going there, cutting hair, talking with customers and drinking coffee.

Even though MMA became her primary career, barbering remains part of her identity.

How Did Denise Gomes Reach Dana White’s Contender Series?

After building experience in Brazil, Gomes continued climbing through regional MMA.

She eventually competed for Invicta FC, where she earned a TKO victory.

That performance helped move her closer to a UFC opportunity.

Next came Dana White’s Contender Series.

Gomes defeated Rayanne dos Santos by unanimous decision and earned a UFC contract.

That moment completed a long transition from regional fighter to UFC athlete.

What Happened in Denise Gomes’ First UFC Fight?

Gomes lost her UFC debut by unanimous decision.

However, the defeat did not define her UFC career.

Instead, she returned and began showing the aggression and finishing power that had made her an interesting prospect in the first place.

Her later UFC victories included both knockouts and decisions, demonstrating that she could win through sustained pressure as well as sudden finishes.

Is Denise Gomes a Knockout Artist?

Yes.

Knockout power is one of the most obvious features of Gomes’ game.

Seven of her 12 professional victories have come by knockout or TKO.

That means more than half of her professional wins have ended through strikes.

Despite competing at strawweight and standing only around 5’2″, Gomes can generate significant power with her hands.

She has even joked that she cannot fully explain where the power comes from.

Her real answer is simpler:

She trains hard.

What Is Denise Gomes’ Fighting Style?

Gomes is an aggressive striker with a Muay Thai foundation.

She likes pressure, exchanges and forcing opponents to react.

However, she does not view aggression as mindless forward movement.

Gomes regularly talks about combining aggression with intelligence.

That distinction matters.

She wants opponents uncomfortable, but she also wants to understand when to attack, when to change rhythm and how to create chaos that benefits her.

Why Is Denise Gomes Comfortable in Chaotic Fights?

Because she believes chaos can become an advantage.

Gomes has described herself as someone who can find her game while other fighters become lost during messy exchanges.

In her view, a fight does not always need to be perfectly clean or predictable.

Sometimes the ability to remain mentally clear while everything becomes uncomfortable is itself a skill.

Therefore, her aggression is tied closely to confidence.

Even when the fight is not unfolding perfectly, Gomes believes she can remain herself.

Can Denise Gomes Grapple?

Yes.

Although none of her professional MMA victories have officially come by submission, Gomes has a long jiu-jitsu background.

She has also competed in professional grappling matches.

More importantly, jiu-jitsu was central to her life long before the UFC.

For Gomes, grappling is not simply another technical skill added to MMA training.

It is the martial art she credits with helping change the direction of her life.

What Is GAEA Project?

GAEA Project is the team and martial arts project Gomes helped build after gaining more independence in her career.

The project represents more than another professional fight gym.

Gomes has spoken about wanting an environment where fighters can seek knowledge from different coaches and training partners without feeling trapped inside one system.

That philosophy comes directly from her own experiences as an athlete.

She believes fighters should continue learning while still respecting their main coaches.

Is Denise Gomes a Gym Owner?

Yes.

Gomes has become involved in running her own training environment through GAEA Project.

Being an owner gave her something she had wanted for years:

Freedom to learn.

Instead of being told she could not train with certain people, Gomes could invite specialists, visit other gyms and work with different athletes.

She now tries to extend that same freedom to fighters training around her.

Who Is Denise Gomes’ Coach?

Gomes has identified Thales as one of the primary coaches coordinating her training.

During an interview about her camps, she explained that Thales helps organize the overall structure while Gomes and others also contribute feedback.

Rather than viewing coaching as one person dictating every detail, Gomes prefers collaboration.

She believes the fighter also develops knowledge about what works for their own body and style after years of experience.

Why Did Denise Gomes Open a Social Project?

Because she remembers what martial arts did for her.

Gomes has said she always wanted to give something back to God and to life for the opportunities she received.

Eventually, that idea became a martial arts project in Sapucaia do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul.

The location operates more like a social institute than a traditional profit-focused gym.

At one point, Gomes said the project had only a handful of paying students compared with roughly 35 children participating through the social program.

What Do Children Learn at Denise Gomes’ Project?

The project offers several activities.

Gomes has mentioned:

• Brazilian jiu-jitsu
• Muay Thai
• Ballet

The goal is not simply to produce professional fighters.

Instead, she wants children to have access to positive activities, structure and people who care about their development.

For Gomes, that mission is deeply personal.

She knows how different her own adolescence might have looked without martial arts.

Why Does Denise Gomes Care So Much About the Social Project?

Because she sees herself in the children.

Gomes has essentially said that if the project can help another child facing circumstances similar to the ones she experienced, then supporting it is worthwhile.

Even if the commercial side never becomes highly profitable, she believes the project has value.

Her reasoning comes back to the same idea repeatedly:

Jiu-jitsu helped save her.

Now she wants another child to have access to that same possibility.

Is Denise Gomes Religious?

Gomes speaks openly about God and frequently uses religious language when discussing her life.

She has said that creating the social project was partly a way of giving back to God and life for what she received.

However, the supplied material does not clearly establish a specific religious denomination.

Therefore, her exact religion is not publicly confirmed here.

What Does Denise Gomes Like Outside MMA?

Barbering remains one of her biggest interests.

She still follows highly skilled barbers, studies their work and enjoys improving her own technique.

Gomes also remains connected to traditions from southern Brazil.

Near the end of one interview, she talked about growing up drinking chimarrão, a traditional South American herbal drink, sometimes alongside rapadura.

Those small details offer a different picture from the aggressive fighter fans see inside the cage.

What Is Denise Gomes Like Outside the Cage?

Her interviews reveal a fighter who can be outspoken, funny and self-aware.

However, Gomes has also described herself as naturally shy.

Years of barbering, media appearances and professional fighting helped change that.

She increasingly became comfortable telling her story rather than allowing other people to define it.

That development also explains one unusual nickname she created for herself outside her official “Dee” moniker.

Why Does Denise Gomes Call Herself “Denise do Golpe”?

The phrase has a complicated origin.

According to Gomes, someone connected to a previous part of her career began using fake accounts to accuse her of being a “golpista,” a Portuguese word that can mean scammer.

Rather than allowing the insult to bother her, Gomes turned it into a joke.

After scoring another knockout, she began calling herself “Denise do Golpe.”

The word golpe can also refer to a strike or blow in Portuguese.

So she transformed an attempted insult into a reference to her punching power.

It became a small example of how Gomes approaches criticism.

If someone tries to use something against her, she would rather turn it into something useful.

Is “Denise do Golpe” Her Official UFC Nickname?

No.

Her established fighter nickname is “Dee.”

“Denise do Golpe” is better understood as a personal phrase or alter ego that Gomes adopted and uses humorously.

Still, the story behind it has become closely connected to her personality and reputation for punching power.

What Is Denise Gomes’ Greatest Strength?

Power is the obvious answer, but aggression may be equally important.

Gomes believes she performs well when fights become difficult and unpredictable.

At the same time, she is increasingly focused on pairing that aggression with smarter decisions.

That combination has become central to how she describes herself:

aggression and intelligence.

What Makes Denise Gomes Different?

The résumé alone does not explain her.

Before the UFC, Gomes had already experienced several different lives.

She worked as a child.

She started school late.

She grew up among 12 siblings.

She went through a difficult adolescence.

Then jiu-jitsu gave her somewhere else to go.

Later, Gomes worked in salons because she needed money to keep training.

She became a barber because she needed control of her schedule.

Barbering helped her become less shy.

Fighting helped her find customers.

Eventually, MMA carried her through Invicta FC, Dana White’s Contender Series and into the UFC.

Now she owns part of the environment where she trains and supports a social project designed to give children access to martial arts.

That creates a full-circle element to Denise Gomes’ story.

The sport that gave her an escape as a teenager eventually became the tool she uses to create opportunities for someone else.

Denise Gomes FAQ

Who is Denise Gomes?

Denise Gomes is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC women’s strawweight division.

What is Denise Gomes’ full name?

Her full name is Denise Pacheco Gomes.

What is Denise Gomes’ nickname?

Her official nickname is “Dee.”

When was Denise Gomes born?

She was born on December 30, 1999.

Where was Denise Gomes born?

Official records list her birthplace as São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Where did Denise Gomes grow up?

Gomes strongly associates her upbringing with Sapucaia do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, close to São Leopoldo.

What nationality is Denise Gomes?

She is Brazilian.

What is Denise Gomes’ heritage?

Her specific heritage has not been publicly stated in the supplied material.

How tall is Denise Gomes?

She is listed at approximately 5’2″ (157 cm).

What is Denise Gomes’ reach?

Her listed reach is 63 inches (160 cm).

What weight class does Denise Gomes fight in?

She competes in the women’s strawweight division.

What is Denise Gomes’ MMA record?

Denise Gomes has a professional MMA record of 12-3-0.

How many knockouts does Denise Gomes have?

She has seven professional knockout or TKO victories.

Does Denise Gomes have any submission wins?

She currently has no submission victories in professional MMA, although she has extensive jiu-jitsu experience and has competed in grappling.

What is Denise Gomes’ fighting style?

Gomes is an aggressive Muay Thai-based striker with strong punching power and a long jiu-jitsu background.

What stance does Denise Gomes use?

She fights from an orthodox stance.

Where does Denise Gomes train?

She is associated with GAEA Project.

Who is Denise Gomes’ coach?

Gomes has identified Thales as a coach who helps coordinate her training. His full name was not clearly supplied in the source material.

Did Denise Gomes train jiu-jitsu?

Yes. Jiu-jitsu was one of her earliest major martial arts and played an important role in her life.

Why does Denise Gomes say jiu-jitsu saved her?

Gomes has said jiu-jitsu gave her structure and helped pull her away from drugs and other problems she faced during adolescence.

Was Denise Gomes a barber?

Yes. Gomes worked as a barber while pursuing her fighting career.

Why did Denise Gomes become a barber?

She wanted a job with a flexible schedule that allowed her to organize work around martial arts training.

Does Denise Gomes still cut hair?

Yes. She still cuts hair for friends and people around her and considers barbering something she genuinely enjoys.

Does Denise Gomes want her own barbershop?

Yes. Gomes has said she would like to have her own barbershop and has already purchased equipment for one.

How many siblings does Denise Gomes have?

Gomes has said she grew up as one of 13 children born to her mother, giving her 12 maternal siblings.

Did Denise Gomes grow up with her father?

No. She has said she first met her biological father when she was 19.

Did Denise Gomes finish school?

Gomes has said she started school late and completed only elementary-level formal education.

Does Denise Gomes own a gym?

She is involved in running GAEA Project, which includes her professional training environment and a social initiative connected to martial arts.

Does Denise Gomes have a social project?

Yes. Gomes supports a martial arts project in Sapucaia do Sul that provides activities for children, including jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and ballet.

Why did Denise Gomes create the project?

She wanted to give children access to the kind of positive environment that martial arts gave her when she was young.

What does “Denise do Golpe” mean?

Gomes adopted the phrase after someone tried to insult her by calling her a “golpista.” Because golpe can also refer to a strike in Portuguese, she turned the insult into a playful reference to her knockout power.

Is Denise Gomes married?

Her marital status is not clearly established in the supplied material.

Does Denise Gomes have children?

No children were publicly confirmed in the supplied material.

What religion is Denise Gomes?

Gomes openly speaks about God and faith, but her specific religious denomination is not publicly established in the supplied material.

Does Denise Gomes drink chimarrão?

Yes. Gomes has said she grew up drinking chimarrão in southern Brazil.

What is Denise Gomes’ Instagram?

Denise Gomes can be found on Instagram at @deegomes_.