Well the near official confirmation from PLA in recent months (someone can link to those sources again if they have those bookmarked, or correct me in stating they are PLA or PLA adjacent sourced rumours) is that some J-11B (?) pilot who is regarded in the PLAAF as a bit of a mid pilot who also has a tendency for carelessness, "defeated" two different types of US fighters in mock fights with one being a stealth and non F-35 aircraft (who else but F-22).
If a PLAAF mid level pilot who is partial to drinking is able to defeat USAF in mock fights on consecutive occasions - both mock fights in question happened on the same week and during the week that USN lost an F-35 to a failed carrier landing, then it begs the question how a Russian source (may be questionable source) claims that F-22 comfortably smashed Su-35s in mock fights.
In fact we know that F-22 comfortably toyed with Iranian fighters and Russian fighters. Rafale beat Su-35 in mock fights and in trials held in tender competitions by nations evaluating Rafale and Su-35 although those may not be entirely based on flight performance alone.
J-11B is no Su-35 in air combat manoeuvres. The F-22 pilot may not have been pushing his aircraft at all. The whole thing could be misunderstanding and/or misrepresentation. The F-22 may not have defeated Su-35 in WVR mock fights but the Russian source was referring more to how superior the F-22 is to the Su-35 in every other aspect and would never allow a Su-35 the opportunity of WVR fight. Who knows. The claim of that J-11B (or rather that pilot) shining against F-35 and F-22 is backed with some confidence.
Well when China exercised with Thailand and flew J-11A against Gripen C, the J-11As reportedly defeated the Gripen in all WVR dogfight scenarios while losing pretty much all the BVR ones. J-11A may have the most experienced pilots operating them and who is to speak on RTAF pilot skills (maybe they're rubbish), but plenty of circumstantial evidence will point to PLAAF instilling and placing emphasis on WVR skills of its pilots. Training and flight hours are higher than USAF in the modern era. PLAAF also employ combat pilots from all over the world to bolster training and ACM tactic awareness. Plenty of evidence shows us that PLAAF is serious about producing high quality pilots. It isn't outrageous to suggest they have randoms who equal and surpass F-22 pilot in his machine.