Melissa Croden vs Daria Zhelezniakova

Melissa Croden

Pro 8-3-0  |  UFC 2-1-0
VS

Daria Zhelezniakova

Pro 10-3-0  |  UFC 2-2-0
Age
35|30
Height
5'9"|5'9"
Reach
68"|68"
Stance
Orthodox|Orthodox

Career Statistics

Statistic Melissa Croden Daria Zhelezniakova Edge
Striking
Sig. Strike Accuracy47.3%40.2%
Sig. Strikes Landed/min4.34.1
Sig. Strikes Absorbed/min2.13.4
Strike Differential2.1/min0.8/min
Grappling
Takedown Accuracy50.0%100.0%
Takedown Defense66.7%50.0%
Takedowns Landed/15min2.00.3
Submission Attempts/15min0.30.0
Control Time/15min3:420:12
Finishing Ability
KO/TKO % of Wins50.0%0.0%
Submission % of Wins0.0%0.0%
Decision % of Wins50.0%100.0%
Avg Fight Time14:5012:13
Secondary Stats
Knockdowns/15min0.30.0
Reversals/15min0.30.0
Edges513 even

Fight Dynamics

Career Striking Volume
Melissa Croden   Daria Zhelezniakova   League median
StatisticMelissa CrodenDaria ZhelezniakovaEdge
Fight Shape
Fight Completion Rate99.0%81.4%
Avg Fight Time14:5012:13
% Fights Inside the Distance33.3%25.0%
Strength of UFC Schedule
Opponent UFC Win % (all)72.7%70.0%
Opponent UFC Record (all)8-3 (72.7%)7-3 (70.0%)
Opponent Record (among wins)4-2 (66.7%)3-1 (75.0%)
Positional Profile
% Time at Distance (approx.)49.1%67.5%
% Time in Control24.7%1.4%
% Time Controlled26.2%31.1%
Control Rate of Clinch/Ground Time48.6%4.2%
Distance Striking
Distance Sig. Landed / Min5.405.70
Distance Sig. Absorbed / Min3.114.00
Distance Striking Differential / Min+2.29+1.70
Distance Strike Accuracy40.4%39.1%
Distance Strike Defense65.3%67.3%
Power & Pressure
KDs per 100 Power Strikes0.790.00
Knocked Down per 100 Absorbed0.000.00
TD Attempts per 5 Distance Min2.750.15
TDs Faced per 5 Distance Min3.433.64
Fade Index (R3 / R1 pace)1.500.96
UFC fights only. Metrics with insufficient data show "—" and award no edge. Methodology →

Last 5 Fights (Averages)

Statistic Melissa Croden Daria Zhelezniakova Edge
Sig. Strike Accuracy47.3%40.2%
Sig. Strikes Landed/min4.34.1
Sig. Strikes Absorbed/min2.13.4
Takedown Accuracy50.0%100.0%
Takedown Defense66.7%50.0%
Control Time/Fight3:400:10
Edges312 even

Last 3 Fights

Melissa Croden

WIN
vs. Daria Zhelezniakova
UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Malott • Apr 2026Women's Bantamweight
Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00
Melissa Croden69/15345%TD 4/8Ctrl 5:12
Daria Zhelezniakova41/11835%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00
▼ Rounds
LOSS
vs. Luana Santos
UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Kape • Dec 2025Women's Bantamweight
Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00
Melissa Croden22/7430%TD 0/1Ctrl 0:44
Luana Santos12/2450%TD 3/7Ctrl 9:21
▼ Rounds
WIN
vs. Tainara Lisboa
UFC Fight Night: De Ridder vs. Allen • Oct 2025Women's Bantamweight
KO/TKO (Punches) • Rd 3, 4:32
Melissa Croden99/17557%TD 2/3Ctrl 5:05KD 1
Tainara Lisboa42/9246%TD 2/8Ctrl 2:19
▼ Rounds

Daria Zhelezniakova

LOSS
vs. Melissa Croden
UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Malott • Apr 2026Women's Bantamweight
Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00
Daria Zhelezniakova41/11835%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00
Melissa Croden69/15345%TD 4/8Ctrl 5:12
▼ Rounds
WIN
vs. Melissa Mullins
UFC Fight Night: Hill vs. Rountree Jr. • Jun 2025Women's Bantamweight
Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00
Daria Zhelezniakova99/22344%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00
Melissa Mullins64/14843%TD 3/6Ctrl 2:55
▼ Rounds
LOSS
vs. Ailin Perez
UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis • Sep 2024Women's Bantamweight
Submission (Arm Triangle) • Rd 1, 3:52
Daria Zhelezniakova5/1242%TD 1/1Ctrl 0:39
Ailin Perez7/1258%TD 2/4Ctrl 1:42
▼ Rounds

Common Opponents

No Common Opponents

Analysis Summary

Striking Volume: Both fighters operate at a similar pace (4.3 vs 4.1 sig str/min). Accuracy and timing will decide the striking battle.

Grappling: Melissa Croden shoots 2.0 TD/15min at 50% accuracy against Daria Zhelezniakova's 50% defense — takedowns are a viable path.

Control: Melissa Croden controls 3:40 per fight on average vs 0:10 — sustained control shifts rounds and drains cardio.

Finish Threat: Melissa Croden finishes 50% of wins (50% KO/TKO, 0% sub).

Fight Length: Melissa Croden's fights average 14:50 vs 12:13 for Daria Zhelezniakova. If this reaches the championship rounds, Melissa Croden's conditioning history becomes a factor.

Last updated: 2026-08-13 | Data source: UFCStats.com