Women’s Strawweights
Konklak Suphisara (6-3, 3-2 UFC) vs. Denise Gomes (6-1, 0-0 UFC)ODDS: Suphisara (-225), Gomes (+190)
It has been a bit of a rocky road, but Suphisara’s UFC career has been a fun ride thus far. The UFC’s first Thai fighter, Suphisara transitioned to mixed martial arts after a decorated muay thai career and has impressed in terms of picking up skills. Beyond the base of her game, she has done a particularly solid job of shoring up her wrestling and dictating the terms of her fights more than one would expect. Sheer physicality has been an issue. Suphisara is a natural atomweight that, given the UFC’s divisional options, has been forced to ply her trade at 115 pounds. The good news? It takes more than pure strength to bully Suphisara around. Wins over Aleksandra Albu and Jinh Yu Frey particularly show that she can hold her own against a hulking opponent, but her last loss to Lupita Godinez did drive home that she has issues with opponents who offer some aggression and skill to supplement those physical advantages. That makes for an interesting pairing against a UFC newcomer in Gomes, who looks to continue a breakout 2022 campaign. Brazil’s Gomes was a relative unknown when she came to Invicta Fighting Championships and beat UFC veteran Milana Dudieva on just four days’ notice in March. She followed with an entertaining victory over countrywoman Rayanne dos Santos to earn a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series less than a month ago. Still just 22 years old, Gomes appears to be a bit of a tank for the division with her short frame, so she certainly has the physicality side of the equation down. However, given that “Loma Lookboonmee” is her toughest test to date, it is essentially a toss-up as to whether her pressure and power will guide her to a victory or just put her in the teeth of Suphisara’s best offense. The pick is Gomes via decision in a fight that can go either way.
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