UFC Fight Night: Melissa Croden vs Darya Zheleznyakova Preview & Prediction
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Two strikers collide on the Winnipeg prelims, as Canadian Melissa Croden takes on Russian Darya Zheleznyakova in front of a home crowd.
Melissa Croden vs Darya Zheleznyakova facts
What time are Melissa Croden and Darya Zheleznyakova expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Burns vs Malott? Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, Canada
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Burns vs Malott? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 273
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Burns vs Malott on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Burns vs Malott? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Burns vs Malott main card
Gilbert Burns vs Mike Malott (Welterweight)
Kyler Phillips vs Charles Jourdain (Bantamweight)
Mandel Nallo vs Jai Herbert (Lightweight)
Jasmine Jasudavicius vs Karine Silva (Women’s Flyweight)
Thiago Moises vs Gauge Young (Lightweight)
Dennis Buzukja vs Marcio Barbosa (Featherweight)
UFC Fight Night: Burns vs Malott prelims
Julien Leblanc vs Robert Valentin (Middleweight)
Tanner Boser vs Gokhan Saricam (Heavyweight)
Melissa Croden vs Darya Zheleznyakova (Women’s Bantamweight)
JJ Aldrich vs Jamey Lyn Horth (Women’s Flyweight)
John Castaneda vs Mark Vologdin (Bantamweight)
Jamie Siraj vs John Yannis (Bantamweight)
Melissa Croden: Can “Scare” bounce back after a ranked loss?
Melissa Croden (7-3) is 1-1 in the UFC, finishing Tainara Lisboa in the third round of her debut before dropping a decision to Luana Santos last December. The 35-year-old Canadian is big for bantamweight, carrying a strong frame and a durable chin. She’s shown her durability against Jacqueline Cavalcanti, where she was dropped four times in under a minute and still wasn’t finished. This loss has aged well considering Cavalcanti has since joined the UFC and gone 5-0. Croden is a patient, technical striker who’s most dangerous with her kicks at range and elbows in the clinch. However, the weakness is the lack of fast-twitch she possesses, firing strikes slower compared to her peers.
Darya Zheleznyakova: “Iron Lady” looking to keep her winning ways
Darya Zheleznyakova (10-2) enters on the back of a decision win over Melissa Mullins last June. Her UFC record stands at 2-1 with her loss coming via first-round submission to Ailin Perez. The Russian boxer uses constant movement and volume to push the pace of her fights, throwing fast 1-2s and extended combinations. Technically, her striking can be limited, Darya has shown to simply alternate left and right hand punches in the same rhythm without any variation in targeting, she also doesn’t have much defensive awareness apart from when she dips her head throwing a jab to the body. The takedown defence is another liability, and her ground game when taken down is extremely limited.
Melissa Croden vs Darya Zheleznyakova prediction
This fight should play out mostly on the feet, as neither woman is particularly keen to wrestle. However, Croden carries the threat in the clinch, which could make the difference in this matchup. We’ve seen Montse Rendon successfully control Zheleznyakova in the clinch and land knees to the body pretty freely, Croden has similar tools, arguably sharper knees given the damage she did to Ashley Deen.
Zheleznyakova holds the advantage in hand speed and footwork. If Croden sits too passively on the backfoot, the Russian can control the fight with her 1-2s and extended combinations, especially since Croden doesn’t have great head movement or defensive ability either. Croden has to lead the fight herself rather than let Darya dictate the range. The Canadian has way more options on the feet, can mix in kicks at the end of her boxing combinations, and clinch work to fall back on if Darya tries to blitz in.
Zheleznyakova’s boxing and overall game is predictable, she willingly takes shots to land her own, and has no answers from bottom if the fight hits the floor. It’s not the most confident pick due to the Russian’s speed, but I’ll ride with the Canadian.
Prediction: Melissa Croden to win via decision
